SOUTHLAKE, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The global strategic communications advisory firm TrailRunner International today announced the appointment of Managing Director and New York office head Kelly Wallace to the position of Chief Operating Officer. The company also announced the opening of its new and expanded office location on New York City’s iconic Fifth Avenue.
In her new role, Wallace will support CEO Jim Hughes with all global operations, help implement the firm’s growth strategy and vision, operationalize critical internal systems and bolster TrailRunner’s unique collaborative culture. Wallace, who joined TrailRunner International in 2019 following two decades in media including on-air correspondent roles for CNN and CBS News, will continue to serve on the Executive Committee and will continue leading the New York office pending a search for a new head of office.
TrailRunner, which is headquartered in Dallas-Fort Worth with offices in Shanghai, Nashville, and Truckee, Calif. in addition to New York, has experienced significant growth since its founding in 2016, with strong momentum in special situations and corporate assignments spanning financial communications, crisis communications, corporate reputation, sports and high-impact reputational work across the full spectrum of corporate affairs. TrailRunner opened its first New York office in 2018 and this month under Kelly’s leadership moved into a larger office on Fifth Avenue in the heart of Midtown, to accommodate the company’s significant growth. This follows the firm’s opening last year of an expanded headquarters office in Dallas-Fort Worth and its newest office in Nashville.
“From her first days at TrailRunner, Kelly has demonstrated exemplary leadership skills and an unrelenting drive to deliver both for our clients and for members of our team across the firm,” said Jim Hughes, CEO of TrailRunner International. “As we grow and expand, Kelly will play a critical role in reinforcing and enhancing at scale the things that have been key to our success at TrailRunner—our collaborative culture, our commitment to excellence, and our focus on helping clients win. Kelly’s knowledge of the industry and her special strengths as an authentic and inclusive leader make her uniquely well-suited for this new global role as we continue to grow.”
“I’m so honored to take on this important role to help expand the firm’s global reach, lead our dynamic growth strategy and support our committed team,” said Wallace. “The moment I joined TrailRunner, I knew the organization, where culture is central to the company’s DNA, was an extraordinary place, built on a determination to go above and beyond for our clients as they handle the most complex issues. I am committed to doing everything I can to help TrailRunner continue its progress while upholding the values and principles that set the firm apart and make it such a phenomenal place to work.”
While the search continues for a replacement for Wallace to lead the New York office, TrailRunner’s other locations will continue to be led by established leaders in the firm who have made essential contributions to TrailRunner’s growth: Managing Director Pat Shortridge in Dallas-Fort Worth, Managing Director Lauren DiGeronimo in Truckee, Managing Director Trudy Wang in Shanghai, and Director Sarah Grubbs in Nashville. These leaders each will continue to drive hiring and growth in their respective markets while advising global clients.
Before joining TrailRunner, Kelly spent more than twenty years in media, including serving in leadership roles in the digital space driving innovation at CNN and iVillage, one of the first digital content and community platforms for women. An award-winning journalist, she served as a network television correspondent, covering The White House, the Middle East, and political campaigns for CNN, national news for CBS, and the State Department for Fox News. At CNN, she was part of the network’s Peabody and DuPont Award-winning team coverage of Hurricane Katrina and the South Asian tsunami disaster, respectively. At iVillage, she received the Gracie Award for Outstanding Digital Correspondent. Kelly, who is a member of Women in America, a professional development and mentoring organization for executive women, lives in New York City with her husband and their two teenage daughters.
About TrailRunner International
TrailRunner International is a rapidly growing global strategic communications firm that provides crisis communications, financial communications, and ongoing corporate communications support to the world’s top enterprises, institutions, and individuals. TrailRunner is headquartered in Dallas-Fort Worth with offices in New York, Truckee, Calif., Nashville, and Shanghai. Learn more at trailrunnerint.com.
