Rud Pedersen Group, one of Europe’s fastest growing public affairs and strategic communications firms, has announced its latest hire, Hugo FitzGerald. FitzGerald was formerly a Managing Director at both global communications consultancy Finsbury and Hawthorn Advisors.
FitzGerald will lead Rud Pedersen’s public affairs offering in its newly-established London office. He brings nearly 20 years’ experience advising some of the world’s largest public and private companies on reputation management, media relations, crisis situations and political communications.
FitzGerald’s experience includes advising board members at AstraZeneca, BAA, Costa Coffee, innocent drinks, Bombardier, FirstGroup, easyJet, EY, Experian, Oracle, Daily Mail & General Trust, British Gas, Whitbread, Audi UK and Optum healthcare, as well as Volkswagen UK following the diesel emissions issue. He started his career as an adviser in the UK Houses of Parliament, later working for the Conservative Party on a series of election campaigns.
Jon Aarons, Managing Partner UK and Group Director – Strategic Development at Rud Pedersen, commented: “As we continue to build our specialist team in London, we’re pleased to have attracted a public affairs leader with the track record and relationships that Hugo brings. We have ambitious plans in this market and will be announcing further significant hires in the coming weeks.”
Commenting on his appointment, Hugo FitzGerald said, “I am hugely excited about joining such a successful and established European consultancy. Rud Pedersen has an enviable reputation in its core operating markets and it is great to be able to bring the company’s fresh Nordic values of enterprise, efficiency and excellence to the UK at this time of political and economic uncertainty. Global – but especially UK – events over recent months have further shown the importance for companies to be actively engaged and have an effective voice. I look forward to drawing on my experience advising some of the world’s largest public and private companies to help clients achieve this”.