Mark Harris (pictured) will join FGS Global in September and succeed Ajay Junnarkar, the global CFO who has held the role since October 2019.
Harris is currently executive vice-president and CFO at Nasdaq-listed Heidrick & Struggles. He previously held senior finance roles in the US and Asia at investment firms Hercules Capital and Avenue Capital Group, and earlier at Hutchison Telecoms and outsourcing business VSource Pty.
At FGS Global, Harris will oversee all aspects of the finance function and the Global Technology team, the agency said, and “enhance the firm’s operations by leading our global operating committee”.
Harris will report directly to global chief executive Alex Geiser, who said: “With nearly three decades of experience, Mark’s proven track record of success overseeing global finance operations in numerous industries, including professional service organisations, will be instrumental as we continue to build the leading communications advisory firm for the stakeholder economy.”
FGS, the global strategic advisory and comms firm founded in its current form in December 2021, after the merger of Finsbury Glover Hering and Sard Verbinnen, received new investment in April 2023 from private equity firm KKR in a deal that valued the consultancy at $1.425bn. Finsbury Glover Hering was earlier formed from the merger of WPP stablemates Finsbury, The Glover Park Group and Hering Schuppener.
Roland Rudd, global co-chair of FGS and one of the founders, said: “On behalf of everyone at FGS, I thank Ajay for his valuable contributions to the company. Ajay made a positive and lasting impact on our business, helping lead FGS through a period of growth and transformation following the combination of Finsbury, The Glover Park Group, Hering Schuppener and Sard Verbinnen – and through the growth investment by KKR in April 2023.”
Harris said: “FGS is a unique consultancy that offers clients a strategic communications and advocacy partner that helps leadership teams navigate complexity, and I am excited and honored to be joining the team at this pivotal time. I look forward to working closely with the executive team and board to help accelerate financial and operational growth and expansion for the next chapter of the business.”
Global revenue at FGS Global grew eight per cent in 2023 to $455.4m, according to PRWeek’s Agency Business Report.