FTI Consulting

Belgium

In some respects, FTI Consulting’s strategic communications business looks very similar to other global firms in its sector—firms like Brunswick and FGS—that focus on high-profile, high-stakes reputational issues, particularly in “special situations” such as mergers and acquisitions, leadership and organizational change, litigation, and major public policy challenges. But it differs in one significant way, having been acquired in 2008 by FTI Consulting, which offers a broad range of turnaround and restructuring services that complement the communications offer.

The Brussels office can trace its heritage back to 2003, when four of the most prominent women in the European public affairs business former Blueprint. Today, the operation is one of the largest of its kind in the European capital, home to more than 130 consultants with expertise in key sectors such as healthcare, financial services, energy and industrials, and technology, media and telecommunications, offering specialized counsel in reputation management, crisis and issues management, trade and competition (a major focus now, with the threat of tariffs looming), integrated campaigning and data science. As of last year, the Brussels office also includes a thriving corporate finance team, guiding clients through business transformation and restructuring.

Growth has been healthy and consistent over the past five years, and was up by another 5% in 2024. The firm’s client list includes both trade associations and major corporations, from technology companies like Google, Nvidia and TikTok to serious players in healthcare like Abbvie, International Pharmaceutical Aerosol Consortium, and MedTech Europe; from financial services giants Bank of America, Mastercard Europe, and Zurich Insurance to energy and mining companies like AngloAmerican, ExxonMobil, Sasol, and Siemens Energy. Recent award-winning work included the #TrueValue campaign for Payments Europe, an integrated public affairs and PR initiative designed to highlight the diversity, choice, and innovation in the payments market—while challenging misunderstandings on the issue.

The Brussels office is now led by Hans Hack, who heads the strategic communications function across EMEA, and a team of experts including Lauren Burge, appointed as chief of staff & operations and reputation management advisor last year; and newly appointed head of financial services (in addition to trade and competition) Robrecht Vandormael. Wai Hoi Tsang joined the executive team last year and leads corporate reputation and crisis management, while Ukrainian energy expert and former politician Olga Bielkova joined the firm last year.—PH