Sally Costerton to leave H+K Strategies Europe

Jack Martin, H+K’s Global Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, said that Richard Millar, CEO of H+K United Kingdom, and Lars Erik Grønntun, president H+K North East Central Europe, will assume Ms. Costerton’s responsibilities for Europe. Dave Robinson, who was appointed in June as president and CEO of H+K AMEASCA, will continue in his leadership role.

 

“Sally helped me over the past year in many ways and I am grateful to her for her help, guidance and assistance,” said Mr. Martin.

 

“While I am sad to see Sally go,” Mr. Martin added, “I know my colleagues will join me in thanking her for her tireless commitment to this great firm over many years. She will be missed. H+K is in her debt and she goes with our very best wishes and good luck for the future.”

 

“This has been a hard decision to make,” Ms. Costerton said. “I committed to do the role for two years when I started in 2009 and have extended that to work through the management transition with Jack Martin.”

 

“During the past three years,” Ms. Costerton said, “we have done a root and branch review of the EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) business and I’ve made a number of substantial new hires and promotions and put a leadership team in place, which I believe provides clients with great breadth and depth. That process is now complete

and I think now is the right time to move on.”

 

Ms. Costerton also said, “I’ve been at H+K for 12 years and the business is very close to my heart. It’s been a remarkable and very varied experience during which I have learned a huge amount. I have relished working on some of the world’s most challenging assignments alongside many of the industry’s most impressive professionals. Along the way I’ve made many good friends all over the world and had the privilege of seeing many people build great careers.”

 

Costerton has also held other senior management positions, including three years as CEO of the company’s U.K. offices.

 

Her team comprises the largest full-service, multi-specialist group of communications practitioners in the region. She has worked with clients primarily on reputation protection and management.

 

Costerton spent a decade in the technology sector as it came to global prominence, including a period as the firm’s practice head of technology, Europe, Middle East and Asia. She has also worked extensively in the financial services sector. Currently the elected chairman of the Public Relations Consultants Association of the U.K., a post she will hold until the end of 2012, she is also a regular industry commentator.

 

Costerton joined the company in July 1999 from technology boutique Abacus. Prior to that, she built a £1.5 million technology public relations agency from scratch, specializing in helping tech companies strengthen their corporate reputations. Costerton is married with two children.

 

H+K Strategies is part of WPP, one of the world's largest communications services groups, and has 86 offices in 46 countries with clients representing 46 of Interbrand's 2010 Top 100 Global Brands. H+K Strategies has established itself as an unparalleled source of wisdom for world-class clients and has worked with 50 percent of the Fortune 500 worldwide.

 

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