Barri Rafferty joins Morrow Sodali as CEO of America

Barri Rafferty, former global CEO of Ketchum, has been appointed CEO of the Americas by Morrow Sodali. Barri, who is a member of the firm's executive committee, will lead the stakeholder engagement and ESG consulting firm's activities across North and South America in his newly formed job. Barri, who most recently headed communications at Wells Fargo, reports to global CEO Alvise Recchi.

Morrow Sodali highlighted Barri’s capacity to help firms adapt and DEI advocacy, as well as her recent work as temporary CEO of women's business leadership organisation C200 and assistance of start-ups and mid-sized enterprises as a consultant, in announcing the appointment.

"As we continue to grow and expand our platform, we are focused on adding exceptional leadership talent to our team," Recchi explained. "Barri has global experience as a senior leader at dynamic companies, as well as a track record of increasing sales, improving organisational effectiveness, and fostering cross-team collaboration." I am delighted to welcome Barri to Morrow Sodali and am certain that she will propel our Americas business forward."

"I am excited to work closely with the Morrow Sodali leadership team and our TPG investors to continue to grow this global corporate consultancy and leverage the firm's recent acquisitions in ESG and sustainability advisory services," Rafferty said.

Morrow Sodali has also hired Susan Redden Makatoa, former Edelman Asia-Pacific corporate head, to manage its newly formed global corporate communications practise. Redden Makatoa's corporate communications practise, based in Sydney, will complement Morrow Sodali's existing capabilities in corporate governance, ESG, capital markets, M&A, and investor relations.

Barri joins Morrow Sodali 18 months after leaving her position as Wells Fargo communications leader, less than two years after being charged with improving the bank's image.

Barri joined Wells Fargo in July 2020, surprising industry insiders given her position and length of service at Ketchum. She joined a new leadership team led by CEO Charles Scharf and public relations vice chairman Bill Daley, with the goal of repairing the company's reputation following the high-profile phoney accounts debacle.

Barri has been with the Omnicom agency since 1995, climbing through the ranks in various leadership capacities until being selected as one of the first women to run a global PR business in 2017.