NEW YORK: After his sudden departure from Golin/Harris, financial communications veteran Richard Wolff has emerged as head of the holding company that recently bought Thomson Financial's IR consulting unit.
Huntsworth, the group set up by Peter Chadlington, the founder of UK-based marketing communications company Shandwick, bought Thomson IR in October and renamed it The Global Consulting Group (GCG). Shandwick became Weber Shandwick Worldwide.
Wolff has been named CEO of Huntsworth Financial, the US holding company that was created to make the Thomson purchase.
The jump to Huntsworth marks the latest bold career move for Wolff, who became one of the only top executives to leave Kekst & Company when he joined Golin in 1997.
Wolff said he expects Huntsworth to become an acquisition vehicle for buying financial communications and corporate communications firms.
Wolff said his company will look for IR firms that can be easily integrated into GCG or other financial communications firms that might continue to hold their own brand following a buyout.
Wolff also said Huntsworth expects the venture to benefit from a favorable climate for acquirers.
"Most people in the industry have pulled in their acquisition horns," said Wolff. "This is an excellent time to be in the market as a buyer."
Of his latest move, Wolff explained, "This is really a return to what I have traditionally done in my career. While I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Golin, it is traditionally known for its consumer marketing. Trying to do financial communications there was difficult sometimes."
