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Emma Kane, OBE

Global Deputy CEO, Head of EMEA and UK CEO of SEC Newgate

London, UK

Emma Kane

TechInvest Corporation

Emma Kane’s Biography

Emma Kane OBE is a corporate affairs expert specialising in crisis management and corporate and financial communications. With a career spanning more than 30 years, she is Chief Executive of SEC Newgate UK and Global Deputy CEO and Head of Western EMEA at SEC Newgate. The international communications and advocacy group operates across five continents, employs more than 1,300 people and is the world's 18th largest communications group.

Emma began her career in corporate communications in 1986 and held in-house roles at organisations including ProShare and Charles Schwab. In 2000, she founded Redleaf Communications, a corporate and financial communications consultancy. Following its sale in 2018, she became Joint CEO of the enlarged business. In 2019, Redleaf merged with SEC Spa to become SEC Newgate. The group delisted from AIM in 2022 when Three Hills became a minority investor, and in 2023 Investcorp acquired a majority stake through a $100 million investment.

Alongside her executive responsibilities, Emma is Deputy Chair of the Elton John AIDS Foundation, Senior Independent Member... Emma Kane OBE is a corporate affairs expert specialising in crisis management and corporate and financial communications. With a career spanning more than 30 years, she is Chief Executive of SEC Newgate UK and Global Deputy CEO and Head of Western EMEA at SEC Newgate. The international communications and advocacy group operates across five continents, employs more than 1,300 people and is the world's 18th largest communications group.

Emma began her career in corporate communications in 1986 and held in-house roles at organisations including ProShare and Charles Schwab. In 2000, she founded Redleaf Communications, a corporate and financial communications consultancy. Following its sale in 2018, she became Joint CEO of the enlarged business. In 2019, Redleaf merged with SEC Spa to become SEC Newgate. The group delisted from AIM in 2022 when Three Hills became a minority investor, and in 2023 Investcorp acquired a majority stake through a $100 million investment.

Alongside her executive responsibilities, Emma is Deputy Chair of the Elton John AIDS Foundation, Senior Independent Member of the Arts & Humanities Research Council (UKRI), Deputy Chair of the Green Finance Institute and an Advisory Board member for Help for Heroes' No One Left Behind campaign. She stepped down as Chair of The Barbican Centre Trust in 2021 after nine years and completed a nine-year term as trustee and Chair of Target Ovarian Cancer, becoming Director Emeritus. She is also Patron of The Wiener Holocaust Library.

An avid sculptor, Emma holds a Diploma in Jazz and Popular Music and began life as a tenor saxophonist trained by Bobby Wellins. She received the Freedom of the City of London in 2017 for her contribution to the communications sector and was appointed OBE in the King's Honours for services to communications and philanthropy. She is a Liveryman and Senior Court Assistant of the Worshipful Company of Wheelwrights and appears in the PRWeek UK Power Book each year. READ MORE VIEW LESS

Emma Kane’s Newsfeed

City AM

The Debate: Should the City drop its ban on tower logos?

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The Sunday Times

Trailblazing Citi boss and central bank stalwart receive honours

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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 is a top 25 consultancy (PR Week), and 4th largest in Public Affairs.

SEC Newgate S.p.A.

Global Deputy CEO, Head of Western EMEA

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 1300 employees 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 (CDR)

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

Other Business Interests

UK Research and Innovation

Senior Independent Member of the Arts & Humanities Research Council

Apr 2025 - Present

London, UK

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) is the UK’s national funding body that unites the country’s seven research councils, Innovate UK, and Research England to drive scientific discovery, technological innovation, and economic growth through coordinated investment in research and development.

Current Board Positions

World Ovarian Cancer Coalition

Trustee

Sep 2026 - Present

The World Ovarian Cancer Coalition is the only global not-for-profit focused on ovarian cancer, working with close to 200 patient advocacy organisations worldwide to ensure everyone living with, or at risk of, the disease has the best chance of survival and quality of life, no matter where they live.

Green Finance Institute

Deputy Chair

2023 - Present

The Green Finance Institute is a UK-based organisation that leads the development and implementation of strategies to drive green and sustainable finance, facilitating the transition to a low-carbon economy.

Previous Board Positions

The Wiener Library

Patron and Former Trustee

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.

Philanthropy

Help for Heroes

Advisory Committee Member

Mar 2024 - Present

Help for Heroes is a UK charity that supports veterans and serving members of the Armed Forces, and their families, by helping them recover from illness or injury and rebuild their lives.

Elton John AIDS Foundation

Deputy 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

Director Emeritus (Former Trustee and 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.

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.

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.

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.

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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 all reports.

Memberships

Worshipful Company of Wheelwrights

Senior Court Assistant

2023 - Present

London, UK

The Worship Company of Wheelwrights is one of London's ancient livery companies, founded in 1670. It upholds the heritage of wheelwright craftsmanship, supports charitable endeavours, and plays a role in the city's governance.

Awards & Recognition

Inspiring Leadership Foundation

Winner, Lifetime Achievement Award

2024

London, UK

Emma Kane received the 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Inspiring Leadership Foundation (formerly Inspiring Minds Foundation) at their annual gala, in recognition of her outstanding leadership and lasting impact on diversity, equity, and inclusion in business.

PR Week Power Book UK

Emma is consistently included in the 'PR Week Power Book UK', the definitive guide to the brightest and most influential PR professionals in Britain.

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