Head of Communications
Fitch Group is a global leader in financial information services. Dual headquartered in New York and London with offices in more than 30 countries, Fitch Group is jointly owned by Paris-based Fimalac and by New York-based Hearst Corporation. The group is comprised of three businesses: Fitch Ratings, which provides credit ratings and research; Fitch Solutions, which delivers credit market data, analytical tools and risk services; and Fitch 7city Learning, which offers learning and development solutions for the global financial services industry.
Fitch Ratings is a leading global rating agency committed to providing the world’s credit markets with independent, timely and prospective credit opinions. Built on a foundation of organic growth and strategic acquisitions, Fitch Ratings has grown rapidly during the past decade, gaining market presence throughout the world and across all fixed income markets.
Responsibilities:
The Head of Communications – EMEA is responsible for enhancing Fitch Group’s reputation in the region as a global leader in financial information services. The role will focus primarily on the group’s largest business, Fitch Ratings, but will also include Fitch Solutions and Fitch Learning.
The Head of Communications – EMEA will protect and promote Fitch Ratings’ reputation as a market leading rating agency and trusted information source for the capital markets across Europe, Middle East and Africa – and beyond. This will be achieved through proactive, strategic external communications throughout the region in support of the company’s global communications strategy.
Reporting to the Global Head of Communications in New York, the successful candidate will lead an established team to manage the media profile of Fitch’s credit ratings, analysis and award-winning research. The Head of Communications – EMEA will be responsible for enterprise level media relations and have company spokesperson responsibilities in EMEA. Additional responsibilities of this role include overseeing internal communications and supporting the regional implementation of Fitch Group’s global Marketing Communications.
In addition to the head of the group, the Communications team in EMEA currently comprises two press officers (both Senior Directors), two press release Editors (editing 15-30 releases per day) and a Senior Media Associate in London, PR Directors in Paris and in Frankfurt, along with shared resources in the other major financial centres.
The position requires a close working relationship with the analytical and Business Relationship Management teams in the region to ensure consistent messaging and maximised promotional opportunities.
The successful candidate will have substantial experience in financial PR and strong contacts with influential print, online and broadcast media (including the major UK and international TV and radio networks and major daily papers, blogs and news aggregators). He or she will learn quickly in a supportive and collegial environment, and will make it a priority to exceed expectations and promptly deliver tangible results.
Fitch’s global communications team has a mandate to raise the firm’s profile in a thoughtful and sustainable manner. The successful candidate for the EMEA role will be a member of the global communications leadership team, and thus will be an important contributor to that global effort. Because Fitch has dual headquarters in New York and London with numerous senior managers based in London (including the President CEO), the successful candidate will have internal and external visibility beyond those of a typical regional role.
Responsibilities include but not limited to:
- Support the Global Head of Communications in developing and executing an integrated communications strategy that including building and maintaining relationships with print, electronic and broadcast media.
- Ensure consistent messaging leveraging the full array of communication channels, including print, digital, broadcast and social media.
- Handling and fulfilling media interview requests, organising press briefings.
- Write effective pitches for broadcast media, based on technical and complex financial topics.
- Write press releases promoting Fitch research and credit ratings along with the corresponding talking points, FAQs and other background documents.
- Ensure the internal communications needs of London and regional offices are met
- Coordinate with business line marketing and events in region to protect and promote Fitch Group brand concerns
Qualifications and experience:
- Degree educated or equivalent with strong PR, Marketing and Communication skills
- Demonstrated experience in developing and executing comprehensive communications plans and strategies; and managing crisis communication and public affairs issues
- A respected communications professional with strong relationships is mandatory. Relevant candidates will also have strong executive communications/media coaching experience
- Strong internal stakeholder management is a must, as is the ability to influence or persuade in a firm that values consensus building
- The ability to harmonise a range of views into one consistent message and convert technical financial content into accessible, newsworthy copy for the business media
- Ability to manage a number of programs/projects simultaneously, prioritising effectively and meeting numerous short- and long-term deadlines
- Management experience of direct reports as well as matrix management of a number of geographically dispersed resources
- Global corporate experience ideally within the banking, professional services and/or financial services arena
Fitch is an equal opportunity employer that employs people across the full spectrum of society. Fitch works hard to create a workplace with an emphasis on inclusion, innovation and merit. By valuing diversity and equality in our workplace, we believe it adds strength to our business
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