FCO’s Alicia Kearns joins Global Influence

Global Influence has brought in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s Alicia Kearns as client services director. She joins after two years at the FCO, where she led the UK Government’s comms campaigns on Syria and Iraq, as well as advising more than 70 international Governments on counter-terrorism.

Global Influence is focused specifically on government and defence influence solutions, with a particular focus on counter-terrorism, counter violent extremism, stabilisation and political campaigning.

It was officially launched last month by brand strategy and behaviour change agency Verbalisation, which has clients including The Sun, The Times, The Wall Street Journal, and Nuon Energy.

In her new role, Kearns will lead strategic comms campaigns and influence solutions for several international clients, with activity including initial target audience analysis, through strategy, cross-platform activation and effects-based measurement.

Before the FCO, she held comms roles at the Ministry of Defence, where she led the department’s contribution to the Scottish Referendum campaign. She also spent time at the Ministry of Justice, where she was press secretary to the Victims’ Minister.

Sven Hughes, founder of Global Influence, said: “Alicia has worked at the heart of some of the most important government departments and campaigns in recent years. Her track record and reputation are exceptional and her professionalism and energy perfectly match our culture and ambitions.

“I have every confidence that Global Influence’s clients on both sides of the pond will benefit significantly from Alicia’s considerable knowledge and talents.”

Kearns added: “Global Influence uses ground-breaking applied psychology to decode target audiences.  Their rigorous methodology is also underpinned by a genuine desire to deliver meaningful behaviour change to support and protect communities at home and abroad.  I’m proud to be part of a company driven by the need to make a difference.”