Stephen Waddington

Stephen Waddington is the Founder and Managing Partner of Wadds Inc., a consultancy specializing in public relations and communications. This firm assists agencies and communications teams in strategic planning, decision-making, and execution to enhance their public relations efforts.

Currently, Stephen is a PhD research student at Leeds Business School, focusing on the role of public relations in management, highlighting his commitment to advancing the field of public relations through academic research.

With a rich background in the industry, Stephen served as the managing director at Metia Group from 2019 to 2020. This international digital marketing agency is known for its effective campaigns that leverage research, content, demand, and earned media for notable clients such as Amazon, BMW, Capita, Salesforce, and Microsoft, showcasing his ability to drive public relations success in diverse sectors.

Before his role at Metia Group, Stephen was the Chief Engagement Officer at Ketchum from 2012 to 2018, where he played a pivotal role in incorporating digital and social capabilities into client engagements across its global network. His leadership benefited major accounts like IBM, IKEA, and Phillips, underlining his expertise in integrating public relations strategies with digital innovation.

Stephen’s contributions to the field of public relations extend to his tenure as President of the CIPR in 2014, where he focused on reinforcing the profession’s standards as outlined in its Royal Charter. He also chaired the CIPR Artificial Intelligence panel and Social Media panel, leading discussions on the impact of technology and social media on public relations practices and the broader media landscape.