Boomerang Employee Strengthens Hill+Knowlton Ottawa Leadership

TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Hill+Knowlton Strategies Canada (H+K), the country’s top-rated public relations and public affairs firm, is known for its “boomerang employees” – those who leave the firm and return months or years later. The appointment of Michelle McLean to vice-president and group leader of Ottawa’s communications unit, effective February 1, 2013, is one such case.

“Michelle is a proven leader, mentor and team-builder”

An experienced lawyer, public affairs and communications professional in both the corporate and non-profit sectors, Michelle will lead the communications team after spending almost three years as vice-president of public affairs at the Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC). During her time there, Michelle established and built a strong public affairs team and successfully integrated it with the communications team to form one cohesive unit. Michelle also played a leading role in developing corporate communications, stakeholder engagement and government relations strategies and campaigns, as well as rebranding MHCC.

“She's enjoyed tremendous success at MHCC and could go anywhere, yet she chose to come back to us because she knows what to expect here: an incredibly talented team, challenging files and a sky’s-the-limit future,” says Jackie King, senior vice-president and general manager of H+K Ottawa. “Her sought-after skills – which include deep health and stakeholder expertise with a profound understanding of the corporate and public sector – will ensure integration continues to be an H+K priority that is supported and advanced at the leadership level.”

Prior to originally joining H+K in 2008, where until 2010 she worked in the Ottawa public affairs group as a health-stakeholder specialist, Michelle held significant senior-level project and public issues management positions. This included a role as campaign lead to fund a national cancer strategy, to which the federal government committed $260 million in 2006 – a record at the time. Michelle also spent four years as a litigation associate at Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt, LLP.

“Michelle is a proven leader, mentor and team-builder,” adds King. “Her robust litigation, health and public engagement experience will ensure Ottawa’s communications unit’s continued growth. We are delighted and fortunate to welcome her back into the fold, and it is a testament to the work we do and the culture we have that we continue to have top performers return.”

Boomerang employees at H+K enjoy seniority and broader benefits, such as RSP matching and maternity leave top-up, based on cumulative rather than consecutive years of service with the company.

About Hill+Knowlton Strategies Canada

With nine offices across the country, Hill+Knowlton Strategies 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 89 offices in 52 countries as well as an extensive associate network and is a member of WPP (NASDAQ: WPPGY), one of the world’s largest communications services groups.