Download Lisa Schrader, Former Chief of Staff to Chicago Mayor

PRESS RELEASE – Jan. 26, 2016
Lisa Schrader, Former Chief of Staff to Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel,
Joins Hill+Knowlton Strategies
Firm welcomes the public affairs, government and campaign veteran to Chicago office
CHICAGO — Hill+Knowlton Strategies has bolstered its team of public affairs and crisis counselors
with the addition of Lisa Schrader, who has joined the firm as a senior vice president from her role as
chief of staff to Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel. She is based in the global communications agency’s
Chicago office.
“H+K has a legacy of leading strong public affairs campaigns and handling sophisticated crisis
communications assignments in all of our markets,” said Claire Koeneman, executive vice president,
head of the H+K U.S. Central Region and general manager of the Chicago office. “Adding a senior
professional of Lisa’s stature here in Chicago will enable us to grow our platform as well as add real
value to our current clients.”
Schrader brings with her nearly two decades of public affairs and communications expertise in
government, issue advocacy and candidate campaigns, and has served as a trusted strategic advisor
to chief executives. As chief of staff to Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, she was responsible for the
day-to-day management of the city and its sister agencies with more than 80,000 employees and
combined operating and capital budgets of more than $18 billion. She developed strategic plans for
key government initiatives and led the execution of those plans on behalf of the mayor. Previously,
she served as chief operating officer for the City of Chicago under Mayor Emanuel, and as a deputy
chief of staff and deputy chief financial officer for Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley.
Prior to her work in Chicago, Schrader served on the Democratic National Committee’s Texas
research and communications team in the 2000 presidential election, and for the Better World
Campaign in Washington, D.C., an effort funded by Ted Turner’s $1 billion gift to support the United
Nations and strengthen the US-UN relationship.
“It’s an honor to be joining an incredibly talented team at Hill+Knowlton Strategies,” Schrader said.
“I’m eager to continue strengthening the firm’s Chicago roots and adding value to the unique tools and
resources that H+K – a firm with global and local reach, reputation, and capabilities – brings to bear
for clients.”
Earlier this month the firm announced the arrival of Nancy Fitzsimmons, another senior crisis
counselor who joined the firm from tWist Marketing, where she had been a managing director and
head of corporate health, following leadership roles in house at Warner Lambert, AstraZeneca,
Novartis Consumer Health and Bayer Diagnostics.
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 87
offices in 49 countries, as well as an extensive associate network. The agency is part of WPP, the
world’s largest communications services group. Learn more at www.hkstrategies.com.
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Contact [email protected]