Emma Kane OBE

Emma Kane OBE

UK Chief Executive, Global Deputy CEO and Head of Western EMEA

https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmavkane/

emma.kane@secnewgate.co.uk

Emma is a corporate affairs specialist, with extensive experience in crisis communications and advising boards on complex, mission-critical issues. Her career spans more than three decades, focused on building brands and protecting reputations.

She is CEO of SEC Newgate UK, Head of Western EMEA and Global Deputy CEO of the Group, with responsibility for operations in the UK, Italy, France, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands and Spain, as well as affiliate relationships across the region.

Emma founded and built Redleaf Communications over 18 years, before becoming Joint CEO of the Group following its acquisition in 2018. She has since led the integration of the Group’s UK agencies and played a central role at board level in its evolution into a fully integrated global communications business operating across five continents.

She began her career in 1986 at a communications agency specialising in the Government’s privatisation programme. She later held senior in-house roles including Head of Marketing and Communications at ProShare, established by the London Stock Exchange to promote wider share ownership, and Head of Investor Services at Charles Schwab.

Emma is actively involved in philanthropic and not-for-profit work. She is Deputy Chair of the Elton John AIDS Foundation and the Green Finance Institute, a Senior Independent Member of the Arts and Humanities Research Council (part of UKRI), and an Advisory Board Member of Help for Heroes No One Left Behind campaign. She previously served as Chair of Target Ovarian Cancer and the Barbican Centre Trust, holding both roles for nine years, and has also been a trustee of the Wiener Holocaust Library, COSMIC and Nightingale Hammerson.

She is regularly recognised in PRWeek’s UK Power Book. In 2017, she was awarded the Freedom of the City of London for services to the communications industry and is a Senior Court Assistant of the Worshipful Company of Wheelwrights.

Emma was awarded an OBE for services to philanthropy in the King's Birthday Honours 2026.

Emma’s specialisms

We bring together the right mix of expertise for every project. Below are some of the sectors and services I specialise in.

Strategy & Corporate Communications

We advise organisations through their growth cycle, from individuals and start-ups to global leaders.

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Financial Advisory & Transactions

We advise Boards on M&A, hostile takeovers, defence and restructurings, as well as long‑term investor and market communications.

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Purpose & Sustainability

We work with organisations as they transition to a world of purpose and profit and engage all stakeholders to secure trust in corporate ESG missions.

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Crisis, Special Situations & Litigation

We provide immediate support and long-term strategic counsel to organisations facing complex reputational challenges or media scrutiny.

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Emma’s insights

Browse my latest articles from SEC Newgate’s news and views.

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News

I remind myself every morning:
Nothing I say this day will teach me anything.
So if I’m going to learn, I must do it by listening.

— Larry King, CNN

Recent work

We always strive to bring the perfect mix of experience and talent to every project. Whatever the discipline, for us it’s all about delivering positive change for our clients.

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