Andy Hardie-Brown

Co-Founder + Global Vice Chairman

Andy Hardie-Brown is the co-architect of one of the fastest growing global communications agencies anywhere on the planet. His background in building fast-growth, entrepreneurial companies – and 35 years of senior-level management experience in marketing services firms – has helped Allison+Partners gain recognition as a compelling alternative to the large, multinational-owned players.

Today the agency is recognized as a worldwide business partner that is uniquely suited to respond to client needs at the pace which dynamic marketplaces demand. Under his strategic approach to M&A and talent acquisition, Allison+Partners has grown to thirty offices within the past seventeen years. As a result, his vision of creating a world-class communications firm that addresses the need for a vibrant alternative to the monolithic, multinational-owned PR and advertising agencies and small, single geography firms has become a reality.

Jonathan Heit

Co-Founder + Global Chief Operating Officer

Jonathan is a co-founder and partner at Allison+Partners, as well as a trusted adviser to some of today’s best-known technology brands. In his role as global chief operating officer, he focuses on the growth and operations of the agency’s two largest regions, Asia and the U.S. Jonathan also serves as global chair of the Technology practice, spearheading work in both the consumer and B2B categories.

He began his career in Allison+Partners' Los Angeles office, building its profile in the consumer, digital entertainment and technology spaces, and helping to usher in the modern social media age working with clients like YouTube and the original MySpace. More recently, his work for clients including Samsung and Google have contributed to the firm’s continued growth and industry recognition, including PRWeek’s Midsize Agency of The Year.

Jonathan’s work has earned him numerous industry accolades and regular appearances as a media commentator for international news outlets. Jonathan received a Bachelor's degree from Cornell University and previously freelanced as a music journalist and blogger. He lives outside of NYC with his wife, two children and their rescue pup Obi.

Scott Pansky

Co-Founder

Scott is a co-founder of the agency and leads Allison+Partners’ Social Impact group. He developed the agency’s proprietary Corporate Socialanthropy™ process, which helps corporations identify social impact partners and builds the foundation for long-term campaigns that incorporate employee recruitment and retention programs, internal and external communications, and cause-related marketing strategies.

In addition to creating cause initiatives for numerous brands and charity organizations, Scott has extensive experience providing communications and crisis counsel to nonprofit organizations and developing board and ambassador training programs.

Prior to Allison+Partners, Scott opened the Los Angeles office of Connors Communications and spent eight years with The Gable Group. Previously, he worked with the City of San Diego and helped to launch the Aaron Price Fellows as one of its original facilitators.

Scott teaches sponsorship and cause marketing courses through UCLA Extension, speaks globally on cause-related marketing and serves on nonprofit boards and advisory committees, including: Adopt-A-Classroom, City Scholars Foundation, West Valley YMCA and the Southern California Leadership Network. He sponsors the Enid Ruth Pansky Aspire Award at Arizona State’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism, and is a patron of San Diego State University’s School of Journalism and Media Studies, providing a founding gift to the Glen M. Broom Center for Professional Development in Public Relations.

Todd Aydelotte

Partner, Managing Director, Thought Leadership

Karyn Barr

President, Global Operations, Technology

Karyn has worn a few hats in her many years with Allison+Partners – all of which map back to technology. In her current role as president, global operations of the technology group, Karyn dedicates her time to developing high-growth strategies for both start-ups and Fortune 500s. A former journalist and speechwriter, she knows what it takes to tell a compelling, relatable story for even the most complicated of technologies. Her nose for the news has helped companies evolve their brand and executive platforms, establishing them as true category leaders. Under Karyn’s award-winning direction, her teams spearheaded programs for Autodesk, C3.ai, Teradata, HPE, Tech Data, Skybox Security and many more.

Prior to joining Allison+Partners in 2008, Karyn lived in New York City where she worked both on the agency-side and within the media. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University (go, Hoyas!), then earned a Masters of Science from Columbia’s Graduate School of Journalism. When not talking about the wonders of AI, data, fintech and the like, she’s running around San Francisco or up in the mountains with her husband and two (very) energetic kids.

Tracey Cassidy

Executive Director, USPR Operations

Tara Chiarell

General Manager, Washington, D.C. + Executive Director, Client Experience

Tara brings two decades of experience to her role at Allison+Partners. After nearly 15 years in NYC, she brings that mindset to creating the modern DC communications agency. Overseeing all operations of the DC office, she has built a strong business spanning the full suite of integrated marketing services Allison+Partners has to offer. Her dedication and mentorship has built a culture for staff who stay with the firm for years, winning some of the region’s “Best Places to Work” awards.

Tara works with clients to develop strong storytelling narratives backed by “story-doing” campaigns. A true generalist, her work spans industries including consumer and B2B tech, associations, professional services, hospitality, non-profit, healthcare and other niche industries. She has led campaigns for clients across a variety of industries including Amazon, Progressive Insurance, Samsung, ARC, ESA, APTA, GE Healthcare, Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, Intercontinental Hotels & Resorts, and more.

Anne Colaiacovo

President, North America

An expert brand strategist and marketer, Anne excels at using insight to help brands connect with consumers in meaningful ways. As President of North America she is accountable for the financial performance, new business and management of the agency’s 13 U.S. offices. 

Since joining Allison+Partners in 2007, Anne has played an integral role in growing the Consumer practice, as well as Allison+Partners’ U.S. footprint. She has introduced numerous internal policies and staff development programs contributing to Allison+Partners designation as a PRWeek Best Place to Work. She’s led several award-winning campaigns for Progressive Insurance, and provides ongoing counsel to such clients as PepsiCo, Seventh Generation and Danone North America, among others. A dynamic and innovative leader, Anne was the agency’s first and youngest female partner, was named one of PRWeek’s “40 Under 40” in 2014, and has earned industry recognition from PRWeek, The Holmes Report, AdAge and the Public Relations Society of America. 

Meghan Curtis

General Manager, San Francisco

Matthew Della Croce

Global Partner, Global President + Chief Experience Officer

An award-winning PR executive with more than 25 years of experience, Matthew leads the firm’s Corporate practice and oversees the growth and development of our European offices. He has extensive global experience helping businesses and organizations across industries grow and evolve.

Matthew's expertise includes reputation management, corporate brand positioning, thought leadership and executive visibility, change management, B2B marketing, social impact, C-suite counsel, crisis and issues management, integrated communications, influencer engagement, business and financial media and transaction communications. 

He is a regular speaker at the Public Relations Society of America's annual conference, in IR Magazine workshops, and has served as a guest lecturer at New York University, Manhattanville College, Salem State University and in Columbia University's Strategic Communications graduate program. Matthew graduated with honors from Manhattanville College, where he was an All-American Scholar Athlete, and attended St. Catherine’s University, Oxford. He lives in Boston and spends as much time as he can in Vermont with his wife and daughters. 

Brent Diggins

Managing Director, Measurement + Analytics

Julia Farrell

Global Chief Financial Officer

As global chief financial officer, Julia oversees all financial and administrative activities for Allison+Partners.

She previously served as director of M+A and corporate development for Dentsu Network, overseeing strategic acquisitions and divestitures of domestic and international operations. Prior to Dentsu, Julia worked for KPMG in London, Zurich, Pittsburgh and New York on international M+A advisory and audit engagements across multiple industries.

Julia is a chartered accountant (ACA) with a B.Sc. from Imperial College in London. She lives in New York City with her husband and two children.

Brian Feldman

General Counsel

Brian has more than 20 years of experience in public affairs and advocacy, with expertise in grassroots outreach, coalition-building and political intelligence. His work has spanned numerous sectors. He has a deep expertise, however, working with clients in healthcare, including the Healthcare Leadership Council, Pharmaceutical and Research Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), FDA and Tivity Health (Healthways), Inc. Brian speaks regularly on topics ranging from federal legislation to healthcare, and has served as a moderator at hundreds of Congressional meetings. A member of the State Bar of Georgia, he earned his bachelor of arts degree cum laude from the University of Florida and received his J.D. degree with honors from the University of Florida College of Law.

Jill Feldman

Managing Director, Corporate

Jordan Fischler

President, Global Strategy, Technology

Jordan Fischler oversees the consumer technology practice for Allison+Partners. In her more than 14 years at the agency, she has focused on PR strategy and implementation for technology products and services as well as consumer brands and digital media companies with an eye toward driving consumer adoption. She has played a senior role with IKEA, YouTube, Mozilla, the launch of MySpace, as well as PR product strategy and support for a wide variety of Samsung consumer and B2B products.

She leads teams that regularly push beyond the technology pubs and reviewers to showcase how a product or service impacts the consumer. She guides teams in the implementation of award winning product launches, review programs and influencer strategies spanning platforms. She has worked extensively on client events including tradeshows, celebrity red-carpet events, and media roundtables as well as worked closely with clients to drive impactful thought leadership programs.

Throughout her career Jordan has garnered numerous awards for campaigns from the launch of American Idol Underground, the Children Affected by AIDS Foundation, Samsung and Real Mex Restaurants. She was also recently named one of PRWeek’s 2017 “40 Under 40.” She is a graduate of Washington University in St. Louis with a major in Psychology and a minor in Business. 

Richard Kendall

Managing Director, Real Estate

Barbara Laidlaw

MANAGING DIRECTOR, GLOBAL REPUTATION RISK & PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Barbara joined Allison+Partners in 2018 and leads the Global Reputation Risk and Public Affairs practice. She brings over 25 years of experience leading corporate strategy, issues management, corporate reputation, risk, advisory, public affairs and crisis communications campaigns for Fortune 500 companies on behalf of CEOs and boards of directors. A Canadian expat, she operates at the intersection of countries, cultures, and regulators, specializing in governance, education, financial services, food science, agriculture, regulatory issues and data security and privacy.

Ms. Laidlaw has developed and run complex multi-national public affairs and strategic issues and crisis management programs that build and establish baseline positions, proactively engage decision makers and influencers, and enable quick and definitive responses to attacks and external events.

Ms. Laidlaw has a proven track record of successfully communicating complex scientific and financial concepts in a clear and understandable way to stakeholders ranging from policy-makers to influencers and consumers. 

Ms. Laidlaw also serves on the Board of Directors for the Canadian Association of New York (CANY) and the Board of Directors for the Keswell School in New York City. 

Cathy Planchard

Global President, Marketing Innovation Team + Health

Cathy is a partner and the global president of the Marketing Innovation Team, the firm’s global integrated marketing offering. In her role, she focuses on evolving the agency’s capabilities into storytelling services critical for program success, and has oversight of the content, digital, creative, research and analytics teams. She brings 25 years of experience in all facets of branding, lead generation, public relations, strategic planning, employee engagement and executive communications, and has worked with clients such as Toyota, Lexus, Dignity Health, International Game Technology, The Economist, IZEA and Motorola, among others.

Cathy began her tenure at Allison+Partners as general manager of the Phoenix office, where she quickly grew a team of three people into an office producing more than $5 million in annual revenue. In recognition of her accomplishments, she was named to PRWeek’s inaugural “Champions in PR” list. Passionate about volunteering and her work with nonprofit organizations, she served as the vice president of communications for the Junior League of Phoenix, cofounded the Power Lunch series with IABC to provide communications counsel to area nonprofits, and was previously a board member of the Phoenix Public Relations Society. Cathy served as an adjunct professor at Arizona State University, and led the development of the Professional Sales and Marketing standardized test for high school students in conjunction with the Arizona Skill Standards Commission. She received a Master’s of Business Administration, Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and is accredited by both the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) and Public Relations Society of America (APR).

Jeremy Rosenberg

President, Marketing Innovation Team, North America

Lisa Rosenberg

PRESIDENT, CONSUMER BRANDS

Lisa Rosenberg is a creative instigator known for her ability to develop integrated solutions that keep people engaged. With an eye on creativity and storytelling that is always on point, Lisa has been a hands-on force behind many successful brand journeys. She spent the last 25 years developing award-winning campaigns for major consumer brands and has launched every shaving innovation for Gillette from Sensor to Fusion ProGlide, helped M&M’s put the color purple in the bag, introduced clean diesel technology for Mercedes-Benz, brought the Cronut to SXSW and was the creative force behind Driscoll’s Rosé berries.

At Allison+Partners, Lisa serves as President, Consumer Brands, providing dedicated leadership to the practice and working with teams on creative strategy and idea generation to deliver award-winning work for clients. Lisa works with teams supporting a wide variety of clients, including American Airlines, Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, Driscoll’s, Invitae, PepsiCo, Samsung, Auntie Anne’s, Naf Naf Grill and See’s Candies, among others.

Lisa also founded and leads the agency’s creative team, serves as a mentor on the agency’s Women’s Leadership Program and runs creativity training throughout the organization. A noted industry leader, Lisa is often quoted on brand and marketing trends and has served on numerous award juries, including The Clios, Brand Film Festival, Sabre Awards, Silver Anvils Snackable Content and PRWeek Awards, among others. She has been recognized by PRWeek as a Champion of PR and has won more than 35 awards on behalf of her clients.

Jim Selman

Managing Director, UK + Ireland

Jim oversees the business operations, growth and staff development of Allison+Partners’ UK + Ireland teams. He also provides strategic counsel to a variety of clients in the region, including UL, Seventh Generation, IKEA, Cortland Partners, Dexcom and Ascott. Jim’s rich 20-year career has spanned consumer, corporate and entertainment sectors. Prior to joining Allison+Partners, he spent nine years working in various roles at London-based freuds. There, he oversaw the global corporate affairs brief for Mars Incorporated, with a focus on media relations strategy and activation, and supported corporate communications efforts for UK supermarket ASDA. During his time in the

consumer practice, Jim was the business director on Sky Broadcasting and worked on the Diageo and Mars accounts as well as Visit London. Prior to that, he ran the film team, working major U.S. and U.K. film distributors on festival, corporate, unit, theatrical and home entertainment campaigns. Jim began his career at Rogers & Cowan in Los Angeles, where he worked across a combination of entertainment and consumer programmes. Jim graduated from the University of Manchester and lives in his hometown of London with his wife and two children.

Tom Smith

President, Corporate, North America

Tom is a strategic, highly skilled corporate communications professional with a proven 24+ year track record of leading and implementing corporate campaign programs. Tom has led numerous multi-million-dollar global accounts and as president of Allison+Partners' North American corporate practice, he brings deep capability in numerous industries including financial services, hospitality, professional services, technology, education, healthcare and industrial supply. His specialties include integrated communications, corporate brand positioning, thought leadership, executive visibility, B2B marketing, influencer management, media relations and investor relations.

Tom spent more than a decade at Ogilvy PR as an executive vice president leading the firm’s New York corporate practice.  Before joining Ogilvy PR, Tom was a vice president in the corporate communications group at Fleishman-Hillard where he provided qualitative and quantitative investor relations analysis, shareholder identification and industry research. Tom was also a senior account supervisor with GCI Group and early in his career, he worked at Makovsky + Company, a New York-based investor and public relations firm.

Tom received his bachelor's degree in communications from Marquette University in Milwaukee.  He has also been a guest speaker at the National Investor Relations Institute (NIRI) Annual Conference, New York Society of Security Analysts (NYSSA) and Marquette University. Tom is an avid golfer and played at the Division 1 level. 

David Wolf

Managing Director, Allison Advisory

As a recognized thought leader in the industry, David specializes in navigating the unique communications and marketing challenges clients face in China. He advises multinationals expanding into the region, and guides Chinese companies on communications strategies when entering international markets. David's book, “Public Relations in China: Building and Defending your Brand in the PRC,” was published by Palgrave Macmillan in 2015.

Prior to joining Allison+Partners, David served as president and chief executive officer of Wolf Group Asia (WGA), a Beijing-based strategic corporate communications advisory firm. Serving clients such as Discovery Networks, Motorola Mobility, Google, Foxconn, Blizzard, AOL, About.com and Irdeto, WGA won both client and industry accolades and was named Asia-Pacific Boutique Consultancy of the Year by The Holmes Report. Prior to WGA, he led the Asia-Pacific Technology Practice for Burson-Marsteller and was the managing director and chief operating officer of Claydon Gescher Associates (CGA), a boutique strategy and public affairs consultancy based in Beijing.

David lived in China for nearly two decades and now divides his time between China and the U.S. He holds a Master's of international management from the Thunderbird School of Global Management and a Bachelor of Arts in international relations from the University of California, Davis. In addition to English, he is fluent in Mandarin and Spanish. David blogs at Silicon Hutong and The Peking Review. 

Jerry Zhu

Managing Director, China

Jerry oversees business operations, growth and client service for the Beijing, Shanghai and Chengdu offices, fostering expansion throughout the region. He is a recognized expert in corporate communications, with experience in crisis management, public affairs, B2B and technology, counseling clients such as Schneider Electric, Trina Solar and iRobot.

Prior to joining Allison+Partners, Jerry founded and was general manager of Century PR, a boutique agency focused on corporate communications. Clients included Honeywell, Zynga, Happy Life and CITIC group. Previously, he held senior positions at several global agencies including PPR, FleishmanHillard, Hill & Knowlton, Manning Selvage & Lee and Burson-Marsteller. 

Jerry served as a member of the core communications team for the Beijing Olympic Organizing Committee, providing counsel and crisis management to the government agency. He spent his early career as a diplomat before entering the public relations industry. Jerry holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of International Studies and a post graduate diploma in public relations from Beijing University.