H&K promotes Taaffe to worldwide president

Hill and Knowlton’s Europe, Middle East and Africa head Paul Taaffe

has been promoted to the new post of worldwide president.

In this role, Taaffe will act as second-in-command to worldwide chairman

and chief executive, Howard Paster, providing global strategic,

operational and financial advice to the firm’s staff and clients. H&K’s

regional presidents will continue to report to Paster. The specific

details of Taaffe’s remit have yet to be defined.

Taaffe is now one of the few PR operators who have risen to the top of

US-based international PR networks through their UK operations.

Other notable examples are Michael Morley, who launched Edelman’s UK

operation 31 years ago and is now deputy chairman and president of

international operations at Edelman PR Worldwide. Peter Hehir,

co-founder of Countrywide, is chairman of Porter Novelli’s international

network.

Since being promoted last Thursday, Taaffe has also been given

responsibility for the Asia-Pacific region following the surprise

resignation of regional chief Clifton Kagawa, who is joining

Burson-Marsteller to head the region.

Alongside his new responsibilities, Taaffe, 37, will continue to head

the EMEA region, a job he has held since 1994.