Arun Sudhaman 10 Oct 2016 // 8:17AM GMT
NEW YORK — WeWork has made numerous hires to its corporate communications team as the fast-growing co-working startup eyes further global expansion.
The six-year-old US company, recently valued at $16bn, has expanded into Asia this year and also expects to grow its network into Latin America soon. Despite staff cuts, WeWork is expecting to continue expansion beyond its existing 121 office locations in 38 cities.
Alongside that growth, WeWork is investing in its communications resources, following the hire of former Facebook consumer communications director Jennifer Skyler to lead global public affairs and communications at the start of this year. As the company's first communications hire, Skyler has effectively established the function at WeWork, and has made numerous hires this year from the corporate and tech sectors.
Recent appointments include Hillary Klein, who has joined from Edelman as senior director of corporate communications, overseeing North America, Canada and Mexico; Louis Ma as senior Asia-Pacific communications manager; senior corporate communications manager Becky McLean from Joele Frank; and, Padden Murphy from Lyft as director of public policy.
Those hires join a team that also features former Uber global public policy head Corey Owens, who has taken on a similar role at WeWork; senior corporate communications director Dominic McMullan, who joined from GE; and, Cappi Williamson, who arrived from Vice to become director of international communications.
The growth in WeWork's internal communications team means that the company is rethinking its approach to agency support, focusing on cities where additional capacity is required.
Accordingly, WeWork is understood to be currently searching for a new PR firm in London, to go with its existing roster: Red Bridge in Shanghai; the Hoffman Agency in Seoul; MHP Communications in Hong Kong; Another Company in Mexico; and, Risa Heller Communications in New York. The company is also thought to be considering agency options for its expansion into Latin America.