NEW YORK— Hill+Knowlton Strategies has named two company veterans to fill senior positions in the energy and crisis practices, promoting Chris Gidez to be the new global head of the firm’s energy practice and Bill Coletti to be the new global co-lead of the firm’s crisis practice.

Gidez had been global head of the firm’s crisis practice, drawing on extensive experience counseling senior executives on and managing litigation communications, media relations, international energy and environmental issues, and controversial political challenges. He joined H+K in 2004, after 14 years with Texaco and Chevron, where he headed corporate public relations.

In his global role, he will work with the firm’s leadership to appoint a co-lead for the practice outside of the US. He takes on the role following the departure of global energy director Duncan Burns for ICANN. 

“Energy is at the very center of our global economy, and the very center of public policy," says Gidez. "In an era where information has been democratized to such a great degree, energy companies must step up their game to engage effectively with stakeholders, policy leaders, consumers and investors.”

Coletti brings broad experience in national and international politics as well as the management of public policy issues to his new crisis practice role. He was a senior strategist in Public Strategies’ Austin office, having joined the firm there in 2001.