Integrated communications and multi-award-winning veteran Claudia Gioia is joining Hill+Knowlton Strategies on April 1 as head of the firm’s Latin American region. In her role as president and CEO of Latin America, reporting to Americas president and CEO Mike Coates, Gioia takes the helm of a six-market operation with an expanding roster of global and local brands.

Claudia Gioia Named Head of Hill+Knowlton Strategies in Latin America. (Photo: Business Wire)

Claudia Gioia Named Head of Hill+Knowlton Strategies in Latin America. (Photo: Business Wire)

“Latin America and its more than $6 trillion in estimated GDP is a growing presence in the world economy, and increasingly an area of necessary growth for international companies,” Coates said. “I am thrilled that we have attracted a dynamic leader like Claudia, who has such a strong track record in the region.”

Gioia joins H+K from fellow WPP agency Burson-Marsteller with extensive experience over several positions during her 19-year tenure at the agency. Most recently she was EVP for the Burson-Marsteller Miami office and led the U.S. Hispanic discipline. Gioia also has been the WPP Ford communications client leader for Latin America. Prior to that, and over seven years, she was the firm’s Innovation and Technology Practice chair, overseeing clients in 15 markets.

Gioia joined the agency in 1995 as market leader responsible for Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay as a result of Burson-Marsteller’s acquisition of the firm she founded, Estrategia SA. Over more than two decades, Gioia has led clients such as Walmart, PlayStation, IBM, Intel, Sony, SAP, Goodyear, HP, Mondelez, Visa, Raytheon, Repsol/YPF, Fresh del Monte, Odebrecht, Danone, FedEx, Unilever, Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson, among others.

Gioia’s leading work has garnered many awards, including the Eikon Award, the SABRE Award for the Best Consumer Latin American Campaign for Ford, the WWPed Cream Award in Consumer Marketing in 2013, and the Corporate International Award for Best Florida PR Firm in 2013. Cisco, Symantec and PlayStation also awarded distinctions to her and her team. At the agency she received the Achievement Award, the Regional Client Leader Award for Unilever, the Gold Performance Award, and the Hall of Fame Award. In 2014 she was recognized with the Client Service Leadership Award for her work for Ford in Latin America.

“It’s an honor to join H+K Strategies as president and CEO for Latin America. I am committed to empowering this talented team to realize its full potential and strengthen the relationship with our clients even further,” Gioia said. “As we create the H+K Strategies Latin America of tomorrow, I will focus to seek integrated communications solutions for our clients with data-based solutions that navigate the current omni-channel communications ecosystem.”

Gioia will be taking over the role from Antonio Tamayo, who is retiring from full-time service. Tamayo has led the region for the last two years, and prior to that was head of H+K’s Mexico office.

“Antonio has been a loyal and valued member of our executive leadership team more than 19 years. I congratulate him on his retirement and I am very grateful for his contribution,” said Jack Martin, global chairman and CEO of Hill+Knowlton Strategies.

About Hill+Knowlton Strategies

Hill+Knowlton Strategies, Inc. is a leading international communications consultancy, providing services to local, multinational and global clients. The firm is headquartered in New York, with 88 offices in 51 countries, as well as an extensive associate network. The agency is part of WPP, the world’s largest communications services group. For more information, please visit www.hkstrategies.com.

View this release in Portuguese –
http://www.hkstrategies.com/news/claudia-gioia-ira-assumir-hillknowlton-strategies-na-america-latina

View this release in Spanish–
http://www.hkstrategies.com/news/claudia-gioia-nombrada-presidenta-y-ceo-de-hillknowlton-strategies-para-america-latina