Hill+Knowlton Appoints Stephen Carter as National Strategist

CALGARY, Alberta--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Hill+Knowlton Strategies (H+K), Canada’s top-ranked public relations and public affairs firm, announced today that Stephen Carter has been appointed vice president, national director of campaign strategy at the firm. Carter will be based in Calgary and his appointment is effective immediately.

“But, good strategy has to be executed effectively. Stephen brings an impressive track record of developing and successfully delivering complex, multi-stakeholder strategies. This experience will be important to many of our national clients, but particularly those with interests in infrastructure and oil and gas.”

“Earlier this year, we announced a shift in our positioning with the addition of ‘Strategies’ to our company name,” said Mike Coates, president and CEO of H+K. “But, good strategy has to be executed effectively. Stephen brings an impressive track record of developing and successfully delivering complex, multi-stakeholder strategies. This experience will be important to many of our national clients, but particularly those with interests in infrastructure and oil and gas.”

Carter comes to H+K after helping to win several high-profile political battles, two of them for Alberta’s current premier. He led Alison Redford’s successful race for the Progressive Conservative Association leadership bid in Alberta, as well as her campaign for premier of the province. Most recently, he served as Redford’s chief of staff.

He was also the political strategist in Naheed Nenshi’s successful 2010 campaign for mayor of Calgary. His roots in politics include serving as media liaison and strategies to Joe Clark from 2001 to 2003.

Carter studied at the University of Calgary. He has lent his expertise to a number of organizations including the Salvation Army Agape Hospice, Millenium Park and The Alex Community Health Centre.

Hill+Knowlton and Carter will adhere to the lobbying restrictions which prohibit him from lobbying government until the fall of 2012.

About Hill+Knowlton Strategies Canada

With nine offices across the country, Hill+Knowlton Strategies (hkstrategies.ca) is a leader in both public relations and public affairs. The company is the No. 1-rated strategic communications firm in Canada. It specializes in corporate communications, public affairs, marketing communications, crisis, energy, technology, health care, digital communications, financial communications and transactions. The only communications firm to have earned the Order of Excellence from Excellence Canada, it is also recognized as one of the 2012 Best Workplaces in Canada. Its parent company, Hill+Knowlton Strategies Inc., has 86 offices in 46 countries as well as an extensive associate network and is a member of WPP (NASDAQ: WPPGY) (www.wpp.com), one of the world’s largest communications services groups.