Instinctif grows senior team in London with two new appointments

Instinctif has announced two senior appointments in London, expanding its sustainability and emerging markets offering. Helen Dodd has joined as Head of Reinventing Responsibility, the business’s integrated sustainability and ESG advisory service. Kim Polley, a Managing Partner in the business’s Johannesburg office, has relocated to London and has taken on the role of Senior Emerging Market Advisor in addition to her existing client responsibilities.

Ed Amory, CEO of Instinctif Partners, said: “Businesses now understand their ability to affect change, and our deep sector and geographical knowledge and experience will support them on their journey. We are seeing increased demand for our advisory services within sustainability and across emerging markets and Helen and Kim’s appointments show our commitment to supporting our clients in engaging their stakeholders and unlocking opportunities for positive social, environmental and commercial impact. In addition, Helen and Kim’s wealth of knowledge in their respective areas will help our clients navigate increasingly challenging operating environments across the EMEA markets.”

Helen has 15 years of experience in sustainable business communications, public policy and employee engagement. She joins Instinctif from Unilever, where she held senior communications positions in the global and UK & Ireland communications and corporate affairs teams. Helen has also worked in the NGO sector with the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition and held consulting roles with Open Road and Luther Pendragon.

Helen Dodd, Head of Reinventing Responsibility, said: “The ESG and sustainability landscape is rapidly changing, with organisations and brands increasingly expected to put people and the planet at the centre of their business strategies. I’m excited to be heading up Instinctif’s industry-leading Reinventing Responsibility team and am looking forward to supporting our clients at all stages of their journeys.”

Kim has over two decades of experience in developed and emerging market corporate affairs, reputation and crisis management. She works closely with clients to establish leadership positions on issues impacting reputation, ranging from sustainability and public affairs to digital challenges and responses to changing markets. She will split her time between London and Johannesburg in her new role and continue supporting and delivering work with and for the business’s South African clients.

Kim Polley, Senior Emerging Markets Advisor, said: “For almost two decades, Instinctif Partners has supported multinationals, multilaterals, development agencies and state-owned entities in emerging markets. With the global economy under pressure and the impacts of climate change top of the agenda, we believe our expertise in securing our client’s ability to navigate change sustainably and responsibly in volatile markets has never been more relevant.”

The Reinventing Responsibility team was previously led by Group Head of Sustainability Victoria Cross, who is leaving Instinctif after more than a decade with the company.

Instinctif Partners is an EMEA business communications consultancy. It is independently owned, with the majority stake held by private equity firm LDC. Instinctif is the UK’s 2nd largest agency for ESG, according to PRWeek UK’s 2022 rankings, reflecting the demand the business is seeing from clients across sectors to provide services, including the development of impactful sustainability strategies through to guidance on disclosures and reporting frameworks.