LONDON — Global strategic communications firm Sard Verbinnen & Co has appointed Paul Downes to its advisory board.

Downes has more than 30 years’ experience in advising on financial communications, including mergers and acquisitions, equity offerings and crisis communications. In his new role as an advisory director, based at Sard Verbinnen’s London office, he will counsel clients across practice areas.

In 1994, Downes co-founded Merlin Financial Communications, which merged with Instinctif Partners in 2012, when he became CEO and then chairman of the capital markets division.

Since leaving Instinctif in 2016, Downes has been a board director in the beverage and entertainment sectors, and senior adviser to the board of IPSX, London’s new specialist regulated real estate stock exchange, which is due to start trading this year.

Sard Verbinnen’s co-president Andrew Cole said: “Paul has deep experience over three decades in the London market and internationally, on every type of financial transaction and high-stakes situation. We’re delighted that he has agreed to join our team, making his insights and extensive contacts available to our clients and employees.”