SEC Newgate EU

Passionate about operational excellence, Feriel is a seasoned association executive. She brings over 20 years of experience in managing organisations to SEC Newgate EU, 15 of which with associations, large and small, across a variety of sectors. She launched SEC Newgate EU’s association management practice.

Prior to joining SEC Newgate EU in 2011, Feriel worked for a Brussels-based association management company. She also worked for the Council of European Municipalities and Regions, providing technical assistance to EU-funded projects. She began her career as a translator-interpreter.

Feriel graduated in 1994 from the Brussels Institut Supérieur de Traducteurs et Interprètes as a French, Italian and English interpreter. She also holds an Executive Master in International Association Management from the Solvay Brussels School. Feriel is a member of ASAE and the Center for Association Leadership and has served as Chair-elect of the AMCI Global Task Force and as a mentor for the CIPE Know How programme, mentoring the Chambre de Commerce et d’Industrie du Cap Bon (Tunisia).

She speaks French, English, Italian, Arabic, Spanish and Portuguese and holds Belgian and Algerian nationality

Simone Ceruti, Vice President and Head of Public Affairs EU, has 30 years of public affairs, communication, advocacy and ESG experience in the packaging, technology, consumer rights, health and consumer goods sectors. He has extensive insight and expertise, acquired in diverse executive roles, in developing and implementing multi-faceted internal and external consumer advocacy campaigns and strategies, building multi-stakeholder alliances, and representing strategic business interests in various international trade associations.  

 In 2018, Mr. Ceruti launched Digital Together, a think tank representing the voice of digitally-active EU citizens. He has held senior corporate roles at Zambon Group, Danone, BOLDT and APCO in Milan and Brussels, focused on external stakeholder relationships and advocacy across multiple sectors. Prior to joining SEC Newgate, Mr. Ceruti worked as Group VP Corporate Communications and External Affairs at Seda International Packaging Group, active across the EU and North America. 

Mr. Ceruti studied Marketing & Corporate Communication at the Accademia di Comunicazione in Milan, and European Studies (CHEE) at the École Nationale d’Administration in Strasbourg. 

Delia Voica, Director of Communications at SEC Newgate EU, brings more than 15 years of experience in strategic communications, team leadership, and campaign development across European public affairs and corporate environments. In her current role, she leads communications teams, manages key client accounts, and plays a central role in shaping departmental strategy and growth.

Prior to joining SEC Newgate EU, Delia served as Director of Communications in another consultancy, where she was responsible for designing and implementing integrated communication strategies, overseeing media relations, and leading both internal and external campaigns for a wide range of clients.

Earlier in her career, she held several senior positions, including Senior Communications Manager at 5G Automotive Association, EU Communications Manager at Japan Tobacco International, and PR & Events Director at EurActiv. In these roles, she contributed to significant revenue growth, strengthened stakeholder engagement, and delivered high-profile policy events across Europe.

Delia’s expertise covers strategic communications, customer service, project management, and multilingual communications. She is fluent in English and Romanian.

Philip Herd serves as Head of Media Relations at SEC Newgate EU, bringing with him deep expertise in media and communications as well as a far-reaching professional network spanning Brussels and the international stage.

Before joining the firm, he was Editor-in-Chief of The Brussels Times, following an earlier period working as a consultant at SEC Newgate EU. He relocated to Brussels in 2019 to take on the role of Head of Communications for a global technology company. Collectively, these positions have equipped him with a distinctive perspective on the interconnected worlds of advocacy, communications, and journalism in Brussels and beyond.

Philip also built a distinguished career of more than 25 years at BBC, where he held senior editorial roles. During this time, he covered major global events and breaking news stories, while also leading teams and overseeing news operations, deployments, and bureaux in key locations including Westminster, Belfast, Glasgow, Brussels, Paris, and Washington, D.C.

A British national, Philip holds a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Leeds and journalism qualifications from Cardiff University. He spent much of his early life living in Vienna and The Hague.