Brussels, Brussels Region, Belgium
Effective, strategic and also hands-on pragmatic Communications and Sustainability Executive. I am passionate about driving positive impact and delivering value. A self-starter that has set-up key functions (Communications and Sustainability) for growth businesses in multicultural environments and highly regulated sectors. Strong business acumen and focus on strategic and performance improvement. I cut through complexity and turn it into a narrative that can be acted upon. I build coalitions with Ministers, CEOs, NGOs, investors, Boards and internal centers that move the needle forward on key issues. I create credibility fast, especially when trust is fragile, or scrutiny is intense. As part of the C-suite I have led major transformation projects and integration across global organisations. Managing and building reputation around critical issues such as access to medecines, sustainable packaging and unconventional resources. I make strategy real, embedding it into operations, incentives, governance and leadership behaviour. I stay calm under pressure, which is exactly when organisations bleed value. I have proven management of complex global projects and resources and strong leadership experience in building high performing teams. I steer environmental, social and governance sustainability initiatives through programmes in climate, circular economy and social responsibility and supply chain management. Skills: Public Affairs. Advocacy. Corporate Communications. Sustainability. Crisis Communications. Reputation Management. Reputation stewardship. Issue management. Change management. Transformation. Integration. Innovation. Stakeholder engagement. Coalition building. Media Relations. Executive Leadership Coaching. Thought leadership. Speech Writing. Sustainability Strategy. Strategy implementation. Reputation Management. Evidenced Based Strategies. Fluent in English, French, Italian and Dutch. Working knowledge of Spanish and some German.
Corporate comms’ |Public Affairs | Sustainability strategy | Crisis comms’ and Reputation Management |Stakeholder engagement|Mentoring|Industrial and manufacturing sector corporate comms’ support | Change management| Transformation Impact: ensured operational continuity and for management buy-out of a leading family-owned business. Drove stakeholder engagement and leadership positioning for major industrial packaging player in time of turnaround. Coached young mid-level professionals, fostering their growth and development.
Global sustainable packaging solutions manufacturer | €4.2bn revenue, listed | 37 countries 18, 000 employees | HQ Helsinki, Finland Corporate comms’ |Public Affairs | Sustainability strategy, delivery externally & internally | Sustainability Reporting | Created new function, managed global budget | Crisis comms’ and Reputation Management | Executive Positioning| Reporting to CEO and on Global executive team| Leadership comms’ incl all quarterly reporting, media relatinos, investor relations & crisis comms| Marcomms incl. Branding & identity |Social Media Impact as EVP Comms’: Shifted perceptions of packaging and created value narrative for Huhtamaki, positively received by investors. Drove internal engagement on 2030 strategy by developing/moderating global workshops for over 450 business leaders and conducting investor presentations. Positioned Huhtamaki as industry leader in key arenas such as the European Parliament, COP meetings & UN Plastic Treaty Negotiations. Developed winning public affairs strategy and built coalition addressing legislation impacting 50% of the business. Impact as EVP Sustainability: External recognition for performance and progress Gold Star, AAA ESG ratings. Transformation and focus on sustainability across the entire organization. Launched first sustainability bond in Finland. Delivered above and beyond on sustainability KPI’s across environment, social and governance for 3 years running. Linked sustainability performance to Short Term Incentives by developed and launching Global Sustainability & Safety Index
Global Medtech consultancy | HQ Basel, Switzerland Corporate comms’ |Public Affairs | Consultancy | Adovacy | Start-up | Marketing Comms’ Impact: Developed value creation & differentiating external positioning strategy and narrative for start-up bio-tech. Worked on successful commercialisation and exit strategy. Managed crisis comms mitigating impact on brand value
Global Pharmaceutical company, listed | 28 countries | HQ Region Europe in Basel, Switzerland Corporate comms’ |Public Affairs | Strategy and Reputation Management | Sustainaibility & access strategy | Member of European Leadership team| Spearheaded European Europe 2025 Vision| Leadership communications & executive positioning | Reputation Research with 4,000 key stakeholders | Built award-winning Future Proofing Initiatives Impact: Developed fact-based comms’ strategy and value-based narrative. Buy-in and roll-out across all affiliates. Changed the discourse and built relationships with key stakeholders in 28 EU Member States thanks to the paradigm changing ‘The Sustainability Index’ (see Futureproofing Healthcare.com). Changed the discourse, focusing on Roche’s contribution to patients, access and R& D as platform to position leadership.
Global Pharmaceutical company, listed | Key country affiliate | HQ in Welwyn Garden City, UK Corporate Comms’ |Crisis comms’ and Reputation Management |Media Relations |Marketing Comms’ | Access & Sustainability Strategy| Reputation research with over 1,000 key stakeholders Developed ONE Roche Comms’ strategy bring together Pharma, PD, pRED & Diagnostics businesses | Social Media| Restructured UK PR team Impact: Built and rolled out fact-based value narrative for Roche. Data showed perceptions of Roche improved radically. Work with the Cancer Development Fund (incl. setting up a taskforce) awarded a VIVA Award. Issue management on highly sensitive issues including; CDF, Lariam, Esbriet and Disclosure did not result in crisis.
Global industrial company | $18.2 bn, listed | 44,000 employees | HQ Florence, Italy Corporate comms’ |Public Affairs | M& A | Start-up Function | Crisis comms’ & Reputation Management | Marketing Comms’ | Media & investor Relations | Sustainability | reporting to CEO & on executive team| Built CSR model globally Impact: Managed integration of 7 acquisitions, including 30,000 new employees. Developed value creation narrative positioning value of $11bn investment with GE investors. Developed highly performing global team working across 6 different P&L’s, 6 COE’s and 14 regions. Ran GE Oil & Gas’ Annual Meeting, with over 1000 global customers and CEO’s – and acted as MC. Built coalition to address sustainability and Unconventional Resources, with the US Department of State and activists. Managed and led on crisis communications on $28 bolt on Blow Out Preventers (BOP).