People

The acumen public affairs team all have a background in managing complex international assignments in senior positions in large agencies. At Acumen we bring the benefits of this experience to working in close partnership with our clients.

We are all public affairs experts – but in the broadest sense. We are just as comfortable interacting with decision-makers, communicating to the press and developing integrated communications strategies. Similarly, while we are Brussels-based EU experts, we are equally at home in other major policy-making and business centres around the world.     Our philosophy is to act as “sparring partners” to our clients and be responsive but also challenging when appropriate. We excel in providing objective, no-nonsense advice that leads to tangible and sustainable results.  Most of all we love to roll up our sleeves, get to grips with issues and provide hands-on support.

Elaine Cruikshanks has over 21 years international agency experience with Hill & Knowlton. She grew their Brussels office from 1994-2010 to the largest in the PA/PR arena, and in addition had the role of global public affairs director. Assignments have ranged across various sectors with a focus on healthcare, food, consumer, environmental issues and energy. Her background is public affairs (having worked for the UK Foreign Office). This has extended into crisis and issues management, corporate communications and media relations. Elaine has worked with a range of blue chip companies as well as trade associations, ad hoc coalitions, governments, NGO’s and international institutions. Over the years, she has run Brussels, EU- wide and international campaigns for a range of clients including - American Express, AstraZeneca, Baxter, Boots, Coca-Cola, Computer Associates, Daikin, DSM, European Commission, Exxon Mobil, Gates Foundation, Global Fund, GSM Association, Hasbro, Honeywell, Johnson & Jonson, Kellogg’s, Lundbeck,Mattel, Mazda Motor Corporation, Mead Corporation, Merrill Lynch, PepsiCo, Procter & Gamble, Roche, Royal Bank of Scotland Insurance, Siemens, Tusiad, Yahoo!, Vale and Wal*Mart.

Contact Elaine: , Mobile: + 32 475 554 573, Elaine Cruikshanks

Abigail Jones has over 20 years experience in corporate communications and public affairs including consulting on corporate communications, positioning and identity; government and stakeholder relations; change management and internal communications.   Abigail has worked with European and international blue chip companies, trade associations, think tanks and CEO advocacy groups.  She has also created and ran industry coalitions that have engaged with NGOs and institutions such as the European Commission, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the UN.  Her assignments have lead her to work both with clients and the media around the world, including the majority of countries in the European Union, Switzerland, the United States, Nigeria, Ghana, Turkey and Japan. Current and former clients include - ACE (Alliance for Beverage Cartons and the Environment), Akzo Nobel, Cefic, European Roundtable of Industrialists, Heineken, Hewlett Packard, Interbrew (now ABInbev), International Centre for Alcohol Policies, Levi Strauss, Nigerian Breweries, Private Investors for Africa, Sabanci Holdings, SABMiller, Shell, Toyota, Tusiad, and Unilever.

Contact Abigail: , Mobile: + 32 475 410 976, Abigail Jones

Giles Keane has almost ten years experience in public affairs and corporate communications. In his previous position he was a Director at Hill & Knowlton in Brussels where in his last role he ran the International Corporate Communications practice. Giles’ strength lies in his ability to combine traditional public affairs with media relations and other disciplines to provide integrated communications counsel to his clients. He has experience across numerous sectors and policy areas including energy, global health, competition, food & agriculture, ICT, trade, development and EU Enlargement. While his training and specialisation are in EU affairs, his work has brought him into contact with a range of other international fora from WTO Ministerial Meetings to the FIFA World Cup.  Recent clients include the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Sugar Group, The Boeing Company, CEEREAL, The Gates Foundation, The General Medical Council, HP, the Istanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture Agency, Statoil, Syngenta, Tessera Solar, the UN Special Court for Sierra Leone and Visa Europe.

Contact Giles: , Mobile: + 32 473 894 328, Giles Keane

Anna Dé has over 12 years experience in EU Public Affairs, with a particular focus in developing outreach campaigns at EU and Member State level with a focus on market access and business strategies. Prior to joining Acumen Public Affairs as a Director in March 2012, she was at the international agency Hill & Knowlton where she headed up the EU Healthcare Public Affairs Practice in Brussels. She was instrumental in growing the practice to the largest policy practice in the Brussels office. Anna has extensive experience of working for leading pharmaceutical companies and third parties. As well as her in-depth knowledge of the EU healthcare policy environment, she also has extensive experience of establishing EU Public Affairs functions/capabilities for both the private and public sector. Corporate clients have included Amgen, AstraZeneca, Baxter, BMS, J&J, Lundbeck, Merck, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, and Sanofi-Aventis. Healthcare third party clients have included patient groups and healthcare professional societies. She has been responsible for running EU- wide advocacy campaigns in a range of disease areas including oncology, virology, mental health, Alzheimer’s, respiratory, amongst others. She also has experience of global health issues, providing counsel to a number of organisations, including the WHO. Anna Dé works from London and Brussels.

Contact Anna: , Mobile: +44 77 177 63 199, Anna Dé