Atalanta continues to grow its strategic communications and global public affairs team with the appointment of Austyn Close as Account Director.
Austyn brings a wealth of experience to the agency with a professional background focused on delivering global campaigns on behalf of high-profile corporate and public sector clients. His work has spanned a range of sectors including international development, health, tourism, trade, and financial and professional services. Austyn joins Atalanta from Hill+Knowlton Strategies where he focussed on communications and public affairs strategies for multinational corporates, such as IKEA and Pfizer, as well as semi-governmental bodies including ApexBrasil (the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency) and Embratur (the Brazilian Tourist Board).
At Atalanta, he will work closely with Founder & CEO, Eva Barboni, and COO, Elizabeth Ames, and will initially focus on clients in the international development, education, finance, and sustainability sectors. Austyn will also leverage his expertise in conflict resolution, reconciliation, and post-conflict state-building to continue to grow Atalanta’s portfolio of work in the peace and security sector. Eva Barboni, said: “Austyn is a fantastic addition to the Atalanta team. He has the rare combination of geopolitical, media, and public affairs expertise that will make him an asset to our cross-sectoral client base. He brings a sharp intellect, excellent instincts, and a sense of curiosity in his approach to helping clients achieve their objectives—and leave a positive footprint on the planet.”
Austyn Close, said: "The team at Atalanta are renowned for their experience in global affairs and issues that face our planet. This guiding sense of purpose was an instant draw to me as a communications and public affairs professional. I am pleased to be supporting a range of mission-driven clients including multilateral organisations, philanthropies, and innovative start-ups that are tackling some of the world’s most pressing challenges. I look forward to working with Eva, Elizabeth, and the rest of the team."
