Cognito Appoints New US Leadership

Rowan Benecke joins Financial Services Agency as President, US;

Vivienne Hsu Returning to the UK after two-year secondment to the US

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Cognito, an independent financial services communications and marketing agency, today announced the appointment of new leadership for its US operations. Vivienne Hsu, who previously led Cognito in the US while on a two-year secondment, is returning to the UK after successfully strengthening alignment with the agency’s UK headquarters and other regions to serve international clients.

Rowan Benecke has joined Cognito as President with overall responsibility for the agency’s consulting business in the US. Reporting to Cognito’s global CEO Tom Coombes, Benecke will also serve on the agency’s Global Executive Team in partnership with regional leaders who oversee Cognito’s offices in Amsterdam, Hong Kong, London and Singapore.

“We’re delighted to have Rowan join Cognito at such an important inflection point in our growth in the US,” said Tom Coombes, CEO of Cognito. “As we look to the future to grow and enhance our client services, Rowan’s deep experience integrating communications and digital media across technology sectors offers a compelling proposition to our clients. In this new era of doing business, companies increasingly understand the power of how strategic communications and digital marketing together can protect and build corporate reputation and influence critical stakeholders, while driving business development with demonstrable results. Now more than ever, the value of trusted agency/client relationships, with the ability to provide more nimble, digital and proven services enables Cognito help our clients forge ahead with confidence.”

Benecke, who has more than 25 years of experience, was most recently Chief Growth Officer for Ruder Finn. He previously held senior management positions at Burson-Marsteller, Text100, WE Communications, Zeno Group and Edelman. He brings a strong track-record of profitable growth and business performance leading agency operations in APAC, EMEA and the US. Benecke adds broad experience developing award-winning corporate communications and thought leadership campaigns for Fortune 100 companies from across the consumer, financial services, healthcare and technology sectors.

“This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for me to lead an amazing team of consultants who, as experts in their fields, are established trusted advisors to an impressive portfolio of clients in the financial services industry,” said Benecke. “I look forward to building on all the successes of Cognito in the US to help broaden our client services with exciting new offers, to drive growth and prestige for the agency across business sectors, and to develop and attract the industry’s best talent seeking to work on integrated marketing communications campaigns for interesting brands.”

Cognito is a fast-growing, international public relations, marketing and strategic communications agency. Founded in London in 2000, Cognito now has additional offices around the world including Amsterdam, Hong Kong, Los Angeles, New York and Singapore. We specialize in helping finance, technology and professional services organizations — from large international players to cutting-edge startups — grow their business and manage their reputations. www.cognitomedia.com