Hill+Knowlton Appoints Grant Toups as First Global Chief Technology Officer

Rhea-AI Summary

Hill+Knowlton Strategies has appointed Grant Toups as their first Global Chief Technology Officer. His role focuses on enhancing H+K's technology and intelligence strategy, advancing technology-based offerings, and improving data science usage for client success. Toups brings 15 years of experience from ICF Next, where he led various units. He is expected to drive innovation and strengthen leadership at H+K, aligning with the firm's momentum and WPP's investment in technology.

Positive

• Appointment of Grant Toups as Global CTO expected to enhance technology strategy.
• Toups' extensive experience in technology and digital transformation can drive innovation.

Negative

• Potential concerns regarding continuity and integration of new technology initiatives.

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Hill+Knowlton Strategies, one of the world’s leading public relations firms, today announced the appointment of Grant Toups as the firm’s first Global Chief Technology Officer. In this new role, Toups will advance H+K’s end-to-end technology and intelligence strategy, building the firm’s ecosystem of technology-based offerings and improving the use of data science and analytics to drive client success and employee growth and experience. He will report to the Global Chairman and CEO, AnnaMaria DeSalva and join Hill+Knowlton’s Global Leadership Council.

Grant Toups, Global Chief Technology Officer, Hill+Knowlton Strategies (Photo: Business Wire)

Toups was most recently at ICF Next, where he held a variety of executive leadership roles over his 15-year tenure, leading nearly every part of the business, including Technology, Stakeholder Experience, Customer Loyalty and Strategy and Transformation business units. He also previously served as ICF Next’s Chief Client Officer.

Prior to ICF Next, Toups led PulsePoint Group as its Managing Partner & President. Joining the firm at its founding as the first employee, he subsequently built their Organizational Optimization and Transformation Practice before leading the agency’s overall operations.

“I’m delighted to welcome Grant to the leadership team of Hill+Knowlton,” said DeSalva. “I know Grant to be very dedicated to the advancement of our profession and to the creative development of technology that drives performance. He is a recognized leader in CommTech who has focused extensively on digital transformation and change management, which is an ideal fit for the growth we are experiencing now. With Grant’s leadership and support, we’re eager to innovate new solutions in ways that amplify our capabilities and WPP’s investments in technology.”

Toups is a 2021 PR Week Dashboard 25 honoree, recognizing the “most influential people in communications technology.” He helped design the Page Society’s influential CommTech Learning Curriculum and is a regular guest lecturer on the topic of the confluence of technology and communications.

“I am thrilled to be joining Hill+Knowlton at such an important inflection point in the firm’s journey,” said Toups. “H+K has been a leader in strategic communications for nearly a century, and today there is such strong momentum in the business. I’m looking forward to the work we will do to build H+K’s innovative core to create new outcomes for our people and our clients.”

Hill+Knowlton Strategies

Hill+Knowlton Strategies, Inc. is an international communications consultancy, providing services to local, multinational, and global clients. H+K operates 77 offices in 43 countries worldwide, as well as an extensive associate network, delivering award-winning campaigns to clients across all sectors and disciplines and with a focus on continued innovation for the industry. Headquartered in New York, the firm is part of WPP, one of the world’s largest communications services groups.

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View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211208005355/en/

For Media Enquiries:

Sam Lythgoe, Global Chief Business Development Officer

+44 7785 221709

Sam.Lythgoe@hkstrategies.com

Sarah Brandon, Global Marketing + Communications Lead

+1 416 413 4773

sarah.brandon@hkstrategies.com

Source: Hill+Knowlton Strategies

FAQ

Who is Grant Toups and what is his new role at Hill+Knowlton?

Grant Toups is the newly appointed Global Chief Technology Officer at Hill+Knowlton Strategies, focusing on the firm's technology strategy and data-driven solutions.

What experience does Grant Toups bring to Hill+Knowlton?

Toups has 15 years of leadership experience at ICF Next, where he headed various business units and was influential in technology and digital transformation.

How does Grant Toups' appointment impact WPP and its technology investments?

Toups' leadership is expected to align with WPP's investments in technology, driving innovation and enhancing client offerings at Hill+Knowlton.

What are the expectations for Hill+Knowlton following the appointment of Grant Toups?

The firm anticipates new technological innovations and improved performance metrics as Toups works to build a stronger technology-driven core.