Kelli Parsons is Global Chair, Corporate Affairs and Advisory at Hill and Knowlton Strategies. She advises executive teams and boards of directors to strengthen reputation, manage risk and grow business and societal value. She leads Hill and Knowlton’s global corporate advisory practice, integrating reputation strategy and management, ESG, crisis and issues management, public affairs, and transformation communication. She has a deep interest in partnering with clients to build stakeholder trust and create shared value.
As Chief Communications Officer (CCO) at United Technologies, Kelli created the multi-stakeholder communication strategy for the company’s transformation, including its acquisition and integration of Rockwell Collins, spins of Carrier and Otis and $74 billion merger with Raytheon. She led a strategic initiative to define the company’s purpose and implement a global platform to elevate its reputation for innovation and social impact.
At Fannie Mae, Kelli rebuilt trust and reputation during the historic turnaround of the $3 trillion housing finance company. As CCO, she authored the Progress platform, communicating the transformation to policy makers, regulators, investors, financial institutions and consumers. Working with Fannie Mae’s board, Kelli crafted a communication strategy for its CEO transition, building belief in the company’s leadership, purpose and priorities and achieving strongly positive media coverage, employee affinity and stakeholder confidence. She navigated a hostile political climate and managed complex governance, policy and regulatory matters. For these achievements, PRWeek recognized Kelli as a most powerful leader and Fannie Mae as team of the year.
As CCMO at New York Life, Kelli created its first integrated, purpose-centered marketing strategy, making the 170-year-old global insurance and investment management firm relevant to millennial clients and attaining record levels of brand awareness and client engagement. She also created a transformation communication strategy, achieving 90 percent positive employee opinion.
Earlier, Kelli led H+K’s U.S. corporate practice, the firm’s largest global client relationship, and its New York and Washington markets through financial and cultural transformation.
She began her career as an Emmy and Murrow award-winning television journalist.