Oslo / Brussels, February 15th, 2012: Hill+Knowlton Strategies has appointed leading PA consultant Thomas Tindemans as CEO of its Belgium firm.  Thomas joined H+K Strategies in September 2010 as managing director and today succeeds Jeroen van Seeters who takes up a new role as Strategy Director Europe.  

During his tenure of the past two years, van Seeters recruited the team that is now accessing leadership functions and set in motion the operational structures that will ensure further growth of the Brussels business.

Thomas Tindemans commented: “With the exceptionally talented team of consultants in PA, PR and corporate communications at H+K Strategies, we will focus entirely on the highest quality service to achieve our clients’ goals.  We aim to excel at building convincing positions and creating sustainable coalitions that truly enhance our clients’ business objectives, now and for tomorrow.  It is our ambition to be the preferred advisor to decision-makers in the EU and throughout the unrivalled network of H+K Strategies offices worldwide.”

Tindemans has extensive experience in advising companies, governments and NGOs on a wide range of EU related issues, including legislative processes, policy developments, internal market regulation, competition and trade issues.

Prior to joining H+K Strategies, Thomas Tindemans was for 17 years head of PA at White & Case LLP, the law firm.  He holds a degree in law.

Lars Erik Grønntun, H+K Strategies’ president Europe, said: “In a city where public affairs advisors come in abundance, Thomas ranks at the very top, widely recognised for his in-depth expertise and sound judgement. Since he joined the firm as Managing Director EU Public Affairs, Thomas has been a client man first, always emphasising the need to understand our clients’ concerns and ambitions prior to anything else. For our clients and for H+K Strategies, this is the professional philosophy that counts. In his role as CEO Belgium, Thomas will continue to put clients first and work with the highly skilled and talented Brussels team to drive our clients’ agenda.”   

He added: “I want to express my gratitude for Jeroen’s leadership and dedication to our clients and firm. Now that he assumes a very critical pan-European leadership role, I look forward to work even closer with him. Together with Richard Millar, co-president H+K Strategies Europe, Jeroen and I will work with our operations to strengthening our European professional communities and areas of expertise.”

The Belgium leadership team will, together with Thomas Tindemans, consist of Mark Cunningham, who has been appointed Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer; and Melanie Faithfull Kent, who has been appointed Chief Operating Officer.  Cunningham has been with H+K Strategies since 1997 and held functions as CFO and COO.  Faithfull Kent joined the Brussels operation in 2011 as Managing Director, Communications from a position as Regional Director and Head of Corporate Practice for the Middle East based in Dubai.  Previously she was posted to Bahrain in 2002 before moving to Dubai in 2006. 

Following these changes, H+K Strategies will in the near future look to expand the team with a few senior and talented experts within different sectors or disciplines. Tindemans said: “The next phase in the development of our operation is to complete the team with highly skilled and competent senior client advisors who could add value to existing and new clients.” 

About Hill+Knowlton Strategies

Hill+Knowlton Strategies (www.hkstrategies.be) is the leading PA/PR agency in Belgium and the 4th largest globally in the Hill+Knowlton Strategies network, representing 85 offices in 46 countries. With its truly multinational and multicultural team of more than 50 consultants, Hill+Knowlton Strategies serves more than 100 clients, including leading corporations, trade associations, governments & diplomatic missions and international institutions with public affairs, public relations and corporate communications services. 

Hill+Knowlton Strategies in Belgium maintains strong ties with the EU institutions and Member State governments.  Its network provides for an integrated and full-service pan-European offering to its clients.  Closely linked with federal and regional Belgian authorities, H+K Strategies in Brussels functions as a natural hub for international corporate communications network coordination, and offers a proven corporate and crisis communications expertise.

Contacts:

Thomas Tindemans, CEO H+K Strategies Belgium

Thomas.Tindemans@hkstrategies.com

T +32 2 737 9500

D +32 2 737 9529

M +32 495 380 869

Lars Erik Grønntun, president H+K Strategies Europe

Larserik.gronntun@hkstrategies.com

T + 47 22048200

D + 47 22048202

M + 47 90036550