Hill+Knowlton Strategies is pleased to announce that Caroline De Wolf and Céline Mercier have joined its Brussels office, respectively as Account Director and Account Manager. Both are joining the consultancy’s Belgium Business practice. The two new appointments fit with H+K Strategies’ commitment to further strengthen its integrated Public Relations and Public Affairs offering to domestic and multinational companies doing business in the Belgian market.

A former TV journalist, Caroline De Wolf is a media training expert and a member of H+K Strategies’ crisis communications team. She specialises in corporate reputation management and storytelling. Prior to joining H+K Strategies, Caroline gained significant in-house experience through her work as a communications manager and spokesperson for Dyson, the Antwerp Diamond Industry (AWDC) and the global recruitment firm Robert Half. This makes her familiar with all aspects of communication strategies, both internally and externally.

Caroline confirms: “A good communications strategy helps us think ahead. 95% of all challenges a company can face, are predictable. While keeping a close focus on our clients’ communication requirements we also watch the economic, regulatory and political environment they operate in. It helps us anticipate the issues our clients may face going forward.”

Céline Mercier adds a combined in-house and consultancy experience to the team. She started her career in marketing and communications functions at EDF and served as Communications & PR Manager at a Wolters Kluwer subsidiary providing online solutions for the transport sector. Céline has 5 years of communication consultancy experience, advising clients in various industries including chemicals, plastics, IT, healthcare and professional services.

Céline states: “Corporate reputation has become a strategic asset, both in the physical and the digital world. That’s why more and more companies and organisations expect their consultancy to advise them in both corporate communication and public affairs issues. With our integrated approach we help them drive their business environment, monitor regulatory developments and acknowledge political and social sensitivities.”

Hill+Knowlton Strategies’ CEO, Thomas Tindemans, welcomes the new colleagues: “Caroline brings local expertise with an international perspective, while Céline contributes a decade of reputation management experience with Belgian and international clients. Their appointment fits very well with Hill+Knowlton’s Strategies’ ambition to further expand and to provide an integrated PR/PA offer to our clients.”