Atherton leads H&K’s global digital practice

Global - Hill & Knowlton has promoted Julie Atherton to worldwide director of its digital communications practice.

Reporting directly to H&K's chief executive, Paul Taafe, she takes over from practice founder, Tony Burgess-Webb who is now the agency's chief marketing officer.

"Julie has built up our US digital communications business over the past 15 months and through her team' s efforts we are seeing tremendous momentum with our clients who see the importance of a comprehensive view of the new communications landscape. Julie will now bring together our client focus globally as she integrates our proven digital offering worldwide," Taafe said.

The digital practice at H&K typically considers the three major trends in communications which are conversation, community and content - and aims to provide creative strategy and insight based on those trends.

Atherton joined H&K in November 2005 and before that she was the founder and CEO of Cylo, a New York based digital agency focused on marketing strategy and implementation of interactive/enhanced TV, VOD, DVR, broadband and wireless technologies.