Credentials
Jack’s career spans all facets of business communications: journalism, advertising, marketing, corporate communications, public relations and public affairs. As a result, he offers extensive experience, relevant advice and wholistic solutions. He has been a sought-after consultant, speaker and author on subjects spanning leadership, international business, marketing and social media opportunities, and risk and crisis management.
Career
Before launching JackKnifePR, Jack spent more than 26 years with FleishmanHillard (1990-2016), a leading global communications firm owned by Omnicom Group (NYSE: OMC). He was a senior partner and served in a number of key executive positions, including President and Chief Operating Officer of Europe, Middle East and Africa. Based in London, he expanded capabilities, opened new offices, hired and trained senior managers, established FH’s visibility and tripled revenues.
Additionally, he served as President of the Americas, the firm’s largest group of regions and company revenues, where he continued to expand the firm’s capabilities, client base and revenues. As President of Client Relationships, he expanded services and synergistic opportunities for existing clients and created a relationship with prospective clients, netting additional business for the company. Recruited from another high-profile agency, Jack began with FleishmanHillard as the first EVP/General Manager in Chicago and grew the operation significantly over 9 years.
Jack’s career in communications was launched at the age of 21 when he was recruited out of college by a top 10 advertising agency in New York City. After a successful stint on both coasts, he returned to college for a master’s degree in journalism, then worked as a newspaper, magazine and radio journalist before entering the field of public relations.
Experience
Over 35 years he has served clients in a vast array of industries, including energy, technology, manufacturing, industrial, healthcare, financial, food service, automotive, consumer products and telecommunications. Past blue chip clients have included AT&T, McDonald’s, General Motors, HP, Procter & Gamble, BP, Dell, Anheuser-Busch, Caterpillar and J.P. Morgan Chase, to name a few. He has considerable experience in mergers and organizational restructurings, crisis prevention, crisis intervention, issues management, product/company launches, and all means of strategic stakeholder outreach. He has assisted clients in two dozen crises, both domestic and international.
Recognition
He has lead teams to win many prestigious awards, including a Gold Lion with client General Motors at the 2015 Cannes Festival for Creativity, and PRWeek’s Global Agency of the Year in 2014 for FleishmanHillard.
Internally, Jack created a leadership training program for FH which is still in use today. Hundreds of employees have enjoyed and benefited from the interactive program.
In 2015 Jack was inducted into the impressive Medill Hall of Achievement for his outstanding work across the multiple disciplines of communications.
Involvement
Jack has attended five World Economic Forums in Davos, Switzerland, and four regional WEF forums in Asia and South America. He was a featured speaker at three WEF forums (India, Peru, South Africa). He is active in the business community, serving as Chairman of the Better Government Association board and as a board advisor to the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University. He is a member of The Chicago Club, the Executives Club and the Economic Club of Chicago.
Accreditations
Jack holds a master’s degree in journalism from Northwestern University and a bachelor of science in communications from the University of Illinois. He attended Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management and the Omnicom Senior Management program taught by Harvard Business School faculty members. Jack is also the author of a leadership and communication book, Talk Is Chief.