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