NEW YORK — H+K Strategies has created two global leadership roles for its corporate and public affairs practices, hiring Kelli Parsons and Philippe Maze-Sencier, respectively.

Parsons arrives from her most recent role as CCO of United Technologies to become global chair of corporate. Maze-Sencier, meanwhile, is named global chair of public affairs after previously leading McLarty Associates in Europe. Both report directly to H+K Strategies CEO AnnaMaria DeSalva.

Parsons will oversee the WPP firm’s capabilities in corporate brand and reputation, financial communications, crisis and issues management, employee engagement and change management, and ESG strategies.

Prior to spending the last three years with United Technologies, Parsons held communications leadership roles at New York Life Insurance, Fannie Mae and Warburg Pincus. She returns to H+K after a decade with the firm in Washington, DC, Houston and New York.

“Corporate communication has always been a major driver of value creation, and that has never been more true for our clients than it is today,” said DeSalva of Parsons' hire. "Our clients need H+K to excel in corporate affairs advisory to ensure they convert their strategic and commercial opportunities, manage their risk, and defend and grow reputation."

Parsons is based in New York while Maze-Sencier will divide his time between Brussels and Washington. Prior to McLarty, he spent several years with APCO Worldwide, rising to the position of executive director in the firm's Washington office, where he led the global government relations practice. Before APCO, Maze-Sencier held senior roles at LVMH, the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva, and at the delegation of the European Commission in Washington.

“Philippe joins us to build our global public affairs capability at a time when technology, data, and the role of governments are transforming the world,” added DeSalva. "Now more than ever, our mission to improve our clients’ business outcomes requires an integrated communications and public affairs approach. With Philippe’s leadership, H+K will expand and improve global public affairs to help our clients mitigate risk, build reputation, and accelerate growth."

The new hires come as DeSalva nears the first anniversary of her arrival as H+K's global CEO, replacing Jack Martin.