Golin Names Kj Flynn as London Head of Consumer

Interpublic Group agency, Golin, has promoted KJ Flynn to head of consumer to accelerate the next phase of Golin London’s growth in the consumer practice. The role reports into Ondine Whittington, president, Golin London.

Under KJ’s former role, as executive director, consumer, the practice has seen impressive double-digit growth through strong organic growth and big new business wins. With the team delivering industry-leading work across an enviable client roster, including Unilever brands Magnum, Cif and Persil, Specsavers and ASICS, all contributing to Golin’s most creatively awarded year.

During her tenure, KJ has restructured the consumer team, delivered integrated thinking to our clients, broken down silos to deliver smart corporate counsel to consumer clients and upskilled the team in earned-first thinking. Alongside this, she’s brought in strategic new leadership hires, such as Gemma Combellack, ex-LadBible head of communications, Alex Pearse ex-Talker Taylor leader, as well as accelerating the growth of our specialist influencer practice, Curated, under head of influence Jessie May Brooks.  

The promotion follows Golin’s incredible year of success, including double digit growth, being crowned PRWeek Agency of the Year and winning two Cannes Lions Grand Prix; making history as the first PR agency to win the PR Lion for a creative idea.

Ondine Whittington, president, Golin London, said, “KJ has been pivotal in helping Golin London shape what a modern consumer communications agency looks like. She has an incredible ability to understand what clients need and has played a huge role in the success of our consumer practice in an ever-fluctuating market. In a world where the focus on the earned discipline is greater than ever, through her leadership, we have one of the most marketing literate, future-facing consumer practices in the industry,” said Ondine Whittington, Golin London president.

“There has never been a better time to be part of an agency with an earned-first mindset and the ability to deliver that creative vision across channels. Coverage alone is no longer enough and nor should it be. Our integrated work is constantly evolving to help brands talk to consumers in a way that earns brands an authentic place in culture and critically, drives business impact. By keeping our sights firmly on craft, commercial effectiveness and integrated activation we are exceeding expectations for our clients and building the smartest, most results-driven consumer team in the business,” said KJ Flynn, head of consumer.

KJ joined Golin in 2021 to run its long-standing relationship with Unilever and global interagency activations, following a ten-year stint leading FMCG and retail communications at freuds, for leading brands such as KFC, Asda and McCain.