VMA Search announces the appointment of former Hill and Knowlton CEO as non-executive director

VMA Search, the Corporate Affairs, Internal Communications and Investor Relations Search Company, has announced the appointment of former Hill and Knowlton CEO Marie Louise Windeler as a Non-Executive Director.

Marie Louise has spent five years as the CEO of Hill and Knowlton, one of the worldís premier communications companies, and has over 25 yearsí experience within the communications industry.

As CEO of Hill and Knowlton UK, Marie Louise was responsible for its multi-million pound fee revenue and over 275 staff spread across two locations in London. During her tenure as CEO she developed and grew Hill and Knowlton into a full service agency offering a complete range of PR services in all sectors and practices. In particular she grew the total Corporate practice from a low base to the point where it was delivering 60% of Hill and Knowltonís UK business. She established and developed the Crisis, Issues and Media Training practice which today is recognised as setting the standard for the PR industry.

Marie Louise also recently joined Corporate Culture, the leading communications consultancy with a focus on social change, as Executive Chairman, and will work alongside CEO John Drummond.

She has also had senior client relationships with companies including PandG, Britvic-Pepsi/Robinsons, BandQ, De Beers, Crookes Healthcare, Learning and Skills Council, American Express, Allied Bakeries and adidas.

Oskar Yasar, Executive Director of VMA Search, said; ìMarie Louiseís appointment brings to VMA Search a wealth of knowledge and an innate understanding of the communications environment and of business. We are aware that our clients appreciate and recognise the value of our understanding of the communications environment through our specialist consultants who have experience at the coal face of the industry ñ this appointment underlines and strengthens that unique position.

ìWe are absolutely thrilled that Marie Louise will be joining VMA Search at an incredibly exciting and successful period of growth in our 29 year history.î

Over the past few years, VMA Search has undertaken searches for senior communications professionals for Legal and General, the London Stock Exchange, Lehman Brothers, Burberry, Barclays, Crime Concern, The Rugby Football Union, Scottish and Newcastle and Cadbury Schweppes.

Additional announcement ñ further growth with new offices in Manchester

VMA Group also recently announced the official opening of its new offices in Manchester, which will cover all our specialist recruitment areas:

- Internal Communications
- Corporate Public Relations
- Financial Services
- Freelance and Interim
- Investor Relations

VMA has been recruiting PR and Internal Communications specialists for nearly 30 years. Recently, however, the market has witnessed a dramatic increase in the number of non-London based communications roles. To accommodate this change and provide a more comprehensive service, VMA Group has launched its Northern Office which is to be led by Lucinda Barber, who brings with her over 5 yearsí recruitment experience.