The former journalist, Hillary Clinton communications director, and crisis and corporate communications counselor re-joins the global communications consultancy as an EVP in Washington
WASHINGTON — Hill+Knowlton Strategies is pleased to welcome back Joe Householder, veteran journalist and strategic communications and political counselor, as an executive vice president based in the firm’s Washington, D.C., office. Having previously spent about five years at H+K’s Public Strategies, Inc., he will be in familiar territory as he focuses on public affairs and crisis engagements with some of the firm’s top clients.
“Joe Householder is one of the top crisis and public affairs consultants I’ve worked with,” said Jack Martin, global chairman of H+K. “Joe was already a seasoned crisis counselor and savvy strategist when he worked with us at Public Strategies. The intervening years have only deepened the value he brings to clients, and we’re proud to see him come back to the team.”
Householder spent over 20 years as a radio reporter, anchor and newsroom manager in Birmingham, Alabama; Orlando, Florida; and Houston, Texas. In 2000, he began a second career as a media, communications, and public affairs strategist, starting at the international law firm of Vinson & Elkins, LLP, where he provided media relations and litigation communications services.
In 2002 he joined the reelection campaign of then Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack, where he served as campaign communications director. The following year he became Senate communications director for then New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton.
Joe went from politics and government to Public Strategies, where he represented a wide range of clients, from prominent individuals in public crisis to major corporate clients facing significant public affairs challenges. Householder continued in a similar capacity for seven years at Purple Strategies, before taking on his most current role handling external affairs for the Texas-based law firm Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP.
“I’m excited to be coming home to H+K,” Householder said. “In the years I’ve been away, an already top-flight team has strengthened significantly into one positioned to take on and successfully resolve any of the high-stakes and complex matters clients might imagine facing. I’m honored to have the opportunity to contribute.”
Householder’s return to the H+K family of companies will have him based in a Washington office that has added several other veteran journalists or politicos over the past 18 months. Ellen Moran, who previously served as chief of staff and chief advisor to Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke after serving the Obama administration in 2009 as the White House communications director, joined the firm as an executive vice president and general manager of the Washington office last spring. Soren Dayton, an experienced digital communications and public affairs strategist with a background in Republican politics, joined the firm in the fall as did Matthew Felling, who was strategic communications director for Sen. Lisa Murkowski after an earlier career as a print and broadcast journalist.
“Our D.C. team is working on issues and challenges that draw upon the full flight of H+K offerings – public affairs, digital advocacy, content development, issue management, crisis, the list goes on – and adding someone with Joe’s deep experience across that spectrum is a welcome addition. The fact that it’s a homecoming for him only makes it that much better,” Moran said.
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