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Emma Kane

Chief Executive

SEC Newgate UK

London, UK

Emma Kane

TechInvest Corporation

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Emma Kane’s Biography

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Emma Kane is a strategic communications expert who specialises in crisis management and corporate/financial communications. Her career spans over three decades and she brings a wealth of experience to her role as Chief Executive of SEC Newgate UK, and Deputy Group Chief Executive of SEC Newgate S.p.A. The international communications group operates across 5 continents, has over 850 employees and is ranked in the top 30 largest agencies in the world.

Emma's career began in 1986 at Dewe Rogerson and her first in-house role was as Head of Marketing & Communications at ProShare, the body set up by the London Stock Exchange and industry to promote wider share ownership. She later headed investor services at Charles Schwab prior to establishing her own agency, Redleaf Communications. During her tenure as Chief Executive at Redleaf, the agency acquired and effectively integrated financial services public relations agency, Polhill. In 2018 she sold Redleaf, the agency rebranded as Newgate and Emma became CEO of the enlarged group.

Emma divides her time between her executive roles and her... Emma Kane is a strategic communications expert who specialises in crisis management and corporate/financial communications. Her career spans over three decades and she brings a wealth of experience to her role as Chief Executive of SEC Newgate UK, and Deputy Group Chief Executive of SEC Newgate S.p.A. The international communications group operates across 5 continents, has over 850 employees and is ranked in the top 30 largest agencies in the world.

Emma's career began in 1986 at Dewe Rogerson and her first in-house role was as Head of Marketing & Communications at ProShare, the body set up by the London Stock Exchange and industry to promote wider share ownership. She later headed investor services at Charles Schwab prior to establishing her own agency, Redleaf Communications. During her tenure as Chief Executive at Redleaf, the agency acquired and effectively integrated financial services public relations agency, Polhill. In 2018 she sold Redleaf, the agency rebranded as Newgate and Emma became CEO of the enlarged group.

Emma divides her time between her executive roles and her philanthropic work. She is currently Chair of the UK’s leading ovarian cancer charity, Target Ovarian Cancer. She is also Deputy Chair and Chair of the Global Development Board of the Elton John AIDS Foundation. In May 2021 she stepped down as Chair of The Barbican Centre Trust after 9 years in the role.

She is passionate about the arts and is an avid sculptor. She has a Diploma in Jazz and Popular Music and started life as a tenor saxophonist, trained by Bobby Wellins.

Emma was recognised for her distinguished contribution to the communications sector with the Freedom of the City of London award in 2017. In 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 she was included in the 'PR Week UK Power Book', the definitive guide to the brightest and most influential PR professionals in Britain. moreless

Emma Kane’s Newsfeed

Raconteur

Why chief communications officers can become effective CEOs

CEO of corporate communications consultancy SEC Newgate UK, Emma Kane, considers communications as a “mission-critical” skill for today's business leaders. She said that successful CEOs are required to be expert communicators who are well prepared and can handle the unexpected.

City AM

City PR firm sells majority stake to global investment house as M&A boom continues

Bahrain-headquartered Investcorp has taken a majority stake in SEC Newgate for around $100m (£78.7m), valuing the PR outfit at $250m (£196.8m).

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Emma Kane’s Background

SEC Newgate UK

Chief Executive

Apr 2018 - Present

London, UK

SEC Newgate UK works at the nexus of business, politics, communities, markets and media to deliver positive outcomes… the people you come to with an opportunity to seize, or a problem to solve. The Agency was ranked in the UK’s top 30 PR consultancies in 2020 and 2021 by PR Week.

SEC Newgate S.p.A.

Deputy Group CEO

Sep 2019 - Present

Milan, IT

SEC Newgate SpA is a global strategic communications and advocacy group. The company offers clients expert advice and support around the clock, delivered by more than 850 professionals from across five continents.

Porta Communications

Joint Chief Executive

Apr 2018 - Sep 2019

London, UK

Porta Communications was an international communications group that merged with SEC in September 2019 to form SEC Newgate S.p.A.

Redleaf Communications

Founder & Chief Executive

Jan 2000 - Apr 2018

London, UK

Redleaf was established by Emma Kane in 2000 as a communications firm that specialised in media and investor relations. In 2018 the business rebranded as Newgate Communications and is currently still headed by Emma as Chief Executive.

Charles Schwab Corporation

Head of Investor Services

Apr 1994 - Sep 1997

The Charles Schwab Corporation is a global firm that provides a range of financial services including investment consulting, products & services as well as online trading.

ProShare

Head of Marketing & Communications

1991 - 1994

London, UK

ProShare is an independent organisation in the United Kingdom that promotes employee share ownership. It is an authority on employee share plan ownership and is privately funded by its members.

Citigate Dewe Rogerson

Account Manager

1986 - 1991

London, UK

Citigate Dewe Rogerson is a communications agency that serves over 500 clients globally including start-ups and some of the largest listed companies worldwide. Citigate’s experts specialise in banking, fund management, in-house investor relations, journalism, and creative communications professions as well as sector and transaction specialists.

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Emma Kane’s Gallery

Current Board Positions

Elton John AIDS Foundation

Vice Chair & Chair of Global Development Board

Jul 2020 - Present

London, UK

Set up by Sir Elton John in 1992, the Elton John AIDS Foundation believes AIDS can be beaten. Funds are raised for evidence-based programmes and policies, and the Foundation speaks out honestly and compassionately about the reality of people's lives.

Target Ovarian Cancer

Chair

Feb 2015 - Present

London, UK

Target Ovarian Cancer is the leading ovarian cancer charity in the UK. The charity’s mission is threefold: to improve early diagnosis of the disease, to provide support to patients with ovarian cancer and to fund research.

Previous Board Positions

The Barbican Centre Trust

Chair

Oct 2012 - May 2021

London, UK

The Barbican Trust is a charity led by a cross-section of corporate and cultural leaders. Everyone needs great art - and art needs great funding. The Barbican Centre Trust helps the Barbican Centre with its quest for new supporters and ensures everyone in the business community knows how much the Barbican has to offer.

Nightingale Hammerson

Board Trustee

Feb 2017 - Oct 2020

London, UK

Nightingale Hammerson is a charity that consists of two care homes, Nightingale House, and Hammerson House. The organisation provides care and support to the elderly of the Jewish community.

Grange Park Opera

Board Trustee

Mar 2013 - Nov 2017

West Horsley, UK

Grange Park Opera is an opera company and charity that was established in 1998. It is based in Surrey and has presented more than 70 famous pieces since its inception.

COSMIC | Children of St Mary’s Intensive Care

Trustee & Board Member

Jan 2005 - Mar 2018

London, UK

COSMIC (Children of St Mary’s Intensive Care) was established in 1994 in order to support St Mary’s Hospital with their Paediatric Intensive Care Unit by providing funding as well as financing research on childhood diseases.

The Wiener Library

Patron

Mar 2008 - Sep 2017

London, UK

The Wiener Holocaust Library was founded in 1933 and served as centre of information for Jewish communities around the world about the oppression of the Jews under Hitler’s regime. It is the oldest establishment dedicated to research on the Holocaust.

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Media

Emma Kane on the PRmoment Podcast

Sep 2022

Emma Kane talks to PRmoment about her career in PR, from agency secretary to CEO of SEC Newgate UK and Deputy Group CEO SEC Newgate S.p.A.

Interviews

Square Mile and Me: Emma Kane on building a City institution and her musical past

Mar 2023

London, UK

As one of the City’s movers and shakers, Emma Kane, UK CEO of SEC Newgate and chair of Target Ovarian Cancer, talked to City A.M. about the Square Mile she knows.

Emma Kane interviewed on Sky News

TV Interview

Oct 2021

London, UK

Emma Kane, CEO of SEC Newgate, spoke to Ian King on Sky News about the launch of the SEC Newgate ESG Monitor. Click to view the complete report.

Awards & Recognition

PR Week Power Book UK

In 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 Emma was included in the 'PR Week Power Book UK', the definitive guide to the brightest and most influential PR professionals in Britain.

Freedom of the City of London

Awardee

2017

London, UK

Emma was recognised for her distinguished contribution to the communications sector. The Freedom of the City of London is an award that recognises successful individuals in their field. The Freemen are presented with a certificate by Clerk to the Chamberlain during a ceremony held at Guildhall.