Veteran communicator joins Chicago headquarters to strengthen crisis capabilities and provide senior counsel for clients
Michon Ellis
CHICAGO (July 31, 2024) – Golin, an Interpublic Group (NYSE: IPG) agency, announced today the appointment of Michon Ellis as executive vice president, Issues & Crisis, effective immediately. Ellis, based in Golin’s Chicago global headquarters, is tasked to grow the Chicago Issues and Crisis practice, strengthen its reputation capabilities and partner closely with North American and Chicago leadership to support the agency’s client network. He officially started early July and reports to Molly Starmann, associate managing director, Golin Chicago.
With 25 years of experience in corporate communications, Ellis brings a wealth of knowledge across agency, client-side and independent consulting roles. During that time, he counseled campaigns for Bacardi, Beam Suntory, BMO Bank, Discover, Johnson & Johnson, the Iron Man Group, Mondelez International, US Cellular, USTA Tennis and more. His appointment underscores Golin’s commitment to client preparedness and meets the growing demand for reputation and crisis management expertise amid complex and ever-changing business environments. Ellis’ proven track record includes a pivotal decade at McDonald’s Corporation, where he mastered the art of high-stakes global communications as a corporate communications and consumer PR leader. Most recently, Ellis served as CEO of CLOUT, LLC, a consultancy he founded in 2019 specializing in crisis and reputation management.
“Every sector faces reputation and communications challenges, which is why I’m excited to join Golin, and its existing bench of corporate and crisis talent, to build a world-class offering that will serve as a cornerstone in Chicago and beyond,” said Ellis. “As a centralized hub for those solutions, I look forward to protecting client brands and ensuring their healthy work environments, as well as cementing Golin as a premier partner in navigating those complex challenges.”
“We‘re excited to welcome Michon, a former long-time client and issues and crisis expert, to our leadership team,” said Starmann. “His first-hand understanding of our clients’ challenges will be invaluable as we expand our services and guide them through critical preparation and challenging reputational crises.”
Ellis is tasked to build upon Golin’s bench of crisis and issues expertise, drive specialty department growth and help position Golin as the premier resource for clients navigating a complex landscape. He joins a corporate communications team of more than 40 specialists in the firm’s headquarters, including nearly a dozen experts in crisis and issues management.
About Golin
Golin is a global public relations agency that helps companies create change that matters. Together, we discover powerful human truths that bind us, create with bravery and collaborate inclusively and obsessively. Golin’s 1700 global employees operate across 50+ offices worldwide, allowing us to provide our clients with comprehensive solutions for multi-market, regional and global communications programs. Golin is a 2024 Grand Prix winner from the Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity and was named PRWeek’s 2024 overall Agency of the Year in the U.S., PRovoke Media’s 2024 Best Large Agency to Work for in North America, a 2023 and 2022 PRWeek U.S. Best Place to Work, PRovoke Media’s 2022 overall North America Agency of the Year, PRovoke Media’s 2022 and 2021 North America Large Agency of the Year, PRWeek’s 2021, 2020 and 2019 Global Agency of the Year, AMEC’s 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020 and 2019 Communications Research & Measurement Team of the Year and a 2021 Chicago Tribune Top Workplace.