TORONTO (March 7, 2014) — Creativity is the backbone of innovation. And it’s vital to stay ahead of the curve in a marketing and communications landscape that’s always changing. To that end, Hill+Knowlton Strategies (H+K)—the top-ranked public relations and public affairs firm in Canada—is pleased to announce Chris Davies as national creative director. The decision to create a national creative director role comes on the heels of several major new business wins and an increasing amount of work in the social and digital space.

“There’s no doubt that the lines are now blurry when it comes to earned and paid media, and navigating between the two consistently across multiple offices and practices requires the rigorous bird’s-eye view that a creative director like Chris offers,” says Mike Coates, chairman and CEO at H+K. “We recognize that while the channels are important, it’s about an ideas-first approach—and not creating an ad agency within a PR agency.”

This new position adds momentum to the full-service firm’s evolution as an end-to-end, integrated solutions partner. And it ensures that its work goes well beyond traditional PR—from advertising and content strategy to apps and experiential.

“Chris will help shape the creative environment and refine the creative process at H+K, ensuring that we take an even broader approach to problem-solving” adds Coates. “We’re excited to be storytellers at the forefront of innovative, thought-provoking programs, offering clients powerful ideas rooted in the most strategic and creative thinking in the country.”

Chris has served in creative leadership positions for more than a decade at a wide range of agencies, including Bimm, Taxi and Sharpe Blackmore Euro RSCG (now Havas). He has produced several award-winning campaigns for some of Canada’s most well-known brands. He earned a bachelor of arts from McMaster University.