CHICAGO—Hill & Knowlton has appointed Claire Koeneman as executive vice president and US practice leader for financial communications. She will report directly to Dan Bartlett, US president and CEO, and will be based in the firm’s Chicago office.

In her new role, Koeneman will lead H&K’s focus on C-suite and board counsel and transaction communications, and will focus on helping public and private companies achieve their strategic, financial and business goals. She will also oversee client program growth and executive development across the agency’s US financial communications practice.

Most recently, Koeneman was president of Financial Relations Board, where she spent 17 years developing expertise in transaction-related financial communications, including 144a, IPO and secondary offerings, M&A, bankruptcies, restatements and crisis communications.