Padilla Hires New Crisis Team Leader

Chris Werle brings three decades of high-profile crisis communications and issues management experience to the agency

MINNEAPOLIS (July 26, 2022) – Chris Werle has joined Padilla’s Corporate Advisory Group as senior vice president, leading its Crisis Communications and Critical Issues Management Practice. He will bring his nearly three decades of experience to the agency’s Senior Leadership Group, helping clients develop strategies and solutions for protecting their brands and reputations.

During his career, Chris has counseled senior management and led crisis implementation and training programs for multiple Fortune 500 companies, governmental entities, sports organizations and global NGOs. He previously served as vice president, Global Marketing Communications for Estee Lauder Corporation and as executive vice president and Consumer Practice lead at Weber Shandwick.  

“Organizations are navigating turbulent waters and it’s more challenging than ever to manage the myriad of crises and critical issues in today’s environment,” said Matt Kucharski, Padilla president. “Chris possesses a unique mix of issues management acumen and brand-building expertise, making him a great addition to Padilla’s Senior Leadership Group.”  

Most recently, Chris counseled collegiate athletic departments and conferences, professional sports franchises and leagues in overall positioning and audience engagement, as well as specific programs, issues and challenges. As the senior associate athletic director for the University of Minnesota, he provided strategic communications counsel to stakeholders within the Big Ten Conference department of athletics.

Periodically an adjunct professor at St. Cloud State University and a regular speaker at marketing, communications and digital conferences, Chris has also served on the boards of Minneapolis Catholic Charities, Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity, the University of Minnesota’s Masonic Cancer Center and Positive Coaching Alliance.

“Crisis communications and issues management best practices are always evolving, and I’m excited to be a part of expanding and propagating Padilla’s innovative and holistic Crisis and Critical Issues capabilities,” Werle said.  

About Padilla
Padilla is a full-service public relations agency that transforms brands and organizations through strategically creative communications. Our work across deep areas of sector expertise in food, beverage and nutrition, health, technology, agriculture, consumer marketing and financial services, is consistently recognized by industry partners such as PRWeek, PRovoke and PRSA, among others. Padilla operates in seven cities in the U.S. through its family of brands, which includes SHIFT, FoodMinds, Joe Smith and SMS Research Advisors. As an AVENIR GLOBAL company and a founding member of the Worldcom Public Relations Group, the agency provides services to clients through 155 offices worldwide. Transform with purpose at PadillaCo.com.

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