Former senior Edelman execs launch new advisory firm
Former Edelman colleagues Susan Redden Makatoa and Peter Fraser have joined forces once again to launch a new corporate advisory firm.
Founded alongside solicitor and advocate Mick Bainbridge, Stratagem will offer legal privilege from the outset with the aim to give it a critical advantage in handling sensitive matters.
Redden Makatoa and Fraser worked closely together at Edelman, where they were head of corporate, APAC, and lead government relations counsel, Australia, respectively.
(L-R): Peter Fraser, Susan Redden Makatoa, and Mick Bainbridge
Redden Makatoa has over 20 years experience leading agencies. She spent three-and-a-half years at Edelman, before being made redundant mid-last year, as part of the agency’s global downsizing. She shortly moved on to stakeholder engagement and ESG consulting firm Morrow Sodali where she was managing director.
Fraser has spent the past two years at Edelman, and has a long career advising Australian politicians and industry groups, with a strong background in policy formulation.
Meanwhile, Bainbridge is the founder of veteran-owned law firm Operational Legal Australia, and is well respected for his advocacy for veterans, working closely with government and not-for-profits.
“We have all been working on complex, high stakes matters in recent years, which need calm, considered and informed counsel,” said Redden Makatoa, who will serve at Stratagem’s managing director.
“So, we’ve formed a team with extensive corporate, government and legal expertise to guide our clients through multi-stakeholder corporate, government affairs and legal/regulatory challenges and opportunities.”
With a focus on boards and executives, Stratagem will work through complex issues, providing counsel, training and support with a legal perspective.
“How you show up as a leader can make all the difference, and we’ll help you do that in the best possible way,” Redden Makatoa added.
The new firm will offer corporate communications, executive training, public affairs, issues mitigation and crisis management, and legal engagement.
Keep up to date with the latest in media and marketing
Got a tip?
Lauren McNamara is the associate editor at Mumbrella, covering the agency beat. She joined in November 2022 as editorial assistant, after completing a Bachelor of Communications (Journalism) at UTS.
Linkedin
topics
communications
corporate comms
Edelman
Mick Bainbridge
Peter Fraser
PR
Stratagem
Susan Redden Makatoa
“Stratagem will offer legal privilege from the outset”
Didn’t the big 4 consultancies try this on?
User ID not verified.
Have your say