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.
