The Tide Has Changed

For more than 27 years, Kima Communications professionals have been building brands, managing reputations and spreading messages so that our public and private clients – including governments, corporations and non-profits – can compete and succeed on the global stage. With today’s complex world of constant, unfiltered news and communications clouding the marketing waters, it’s more important than ever to partner with a team that is informed, loyal and trustworthy … and that will make sure your message rises above the rest.

That’s the Kima Communications difference. Our staff has lived or worked all over the world; we have visited more than 130 countries combined. Our outlook is broad, our experience runs deep, our connections are comprehensive. As a small, full-service agency, however, we are able to quickly adapt to our clients’ evolving needs, leveraging our talents in everything from event planning to media placement, advertising to strategic advising for governments. We also are dedicated to developing sincere, long-lasting relationships with our clients, allowing us to integrate into their cultures, adopt their goals, learn their processes, and meet their demands, at every turn, on every timeline.

Kima knows no cultural or geographical barriers, we are a global company. Our work spans the highly public to the highly confidential and is anchored by relationships built on trust.

What makes us unique is not the way we approach every project, but the way we approach every client.


BRAND AND PUBLIC DIPLOMACY / MEDIA
Savas Hadjikyriacou, President / CEO

Heading up Kima’s media division is President and CEO Savas Hadjikyriacou. A pioneer in international image building, Savas has traveled to more than 100 countries in his dynamic career as a brand strategist, global media expert and business developer, working with major news outlets such as CNBC, Euronews, BBC, The Washington Post, The Daily Telegraph and The Washington Times. With a background in international marketing communications and advertising, Savas has created a sphere of expertise that bridges the worlds of public diplomacy and business. His experience includes collaboration, strategic counsel and consultation with government officials at the highest levels in countries such as Ukraine, Cyprus, Greece, and Kazakhstan.

“Understanding how governments and brand diplomacy work is paramount to establishing realistic strategies to move client policies and goals forward. We know to whom you need to speak and whom you need to influence -- never forgetting the role of media and how to impact it for maximum benefit.”

[email protected]

PUBLIC DIPLOMACY
Ambassador Michael Ussery, Vice Chair

Former U.S. Ambassador Michael Ussery leads major investment, business development and humanitarian projects around the globe. He is a founder of numerous companies and non-profit groups operating internationally and holds board positions for several international organizations. Throughout his diplomatic career, Ambassador Ussery has worked within the U.S. Department of State, served as the U.S. Ambassador to Morocco, chaired the 12-agency Libya Task Force during the U.S.-Libya confrontation and served as director for Congress and the Media in the International Organizations Bureau. With this global experience, Ambassador Ussery brings Kima clients unique insight into bridging public and private sectors, helping them succeed on the international stage.

“Trust is key in working with governments and often takes years of relationship building to establish. Advising nations at the highest levels of governance is something we recognize to be a 24/7 relationship, where paramount confidence is required and, of course, extended. We strive to work as an extension of your strategic counsel on all matters of communications and believe in spending as much time as needed in your office to facilitate this.”

[email protected]


BRANDING & CREATIVE
Jennifer Grinnell, Vice President,
Strategy and Creative

With nearly three decades of marketing experience, Jennifer Grinnell is recognized for her award-winning work (including a regional broadcast EMMY® nomination) in a wide array of disciplines and industries. She is a proven expert in virtually every area of marketing communications: advertising, public relations, graphic design, script and copywriting, TV, radio, publishing, corporate and national branding and “brand diplomacy,” a field in which she’s considered a pioneer. Jennifer’s work for Fortune 100 and Fortune 500 companies, non-profit organizations and U.S. and foreign governments has appeared in or on major broadcast stations, newspapers and publications and new media. With proven processes for brand and message development to support her prolific creative output, Jennifer consistently delivers effective, results-oriented campaigns for Kima clients around the globe – creating, reinforcing and disseminating messaging to the right audiences, at the right time, through the right communications channels, from print media to the Web.

“A nation’s reputation often relies on that of its leaders. Understanding this, and adapting strategies to encompass it, helps nations communicate – and pursue – their intended policies and goals. Words have power. Images have meaning. Brands exist. Kima has the vision to harness that power to the benefit of our clients around the globe.”

[email protected]

DESIGN
Matthew Curry, Lead Art Director

Matthew Curry is a twice GRAMMY®-nominated designer, illustrator and artist with more than 16 years of professional experience. His work has been featured in Communication Arts Design Annual #47, STEP Inside Design magazine’s “Best of the Web,” Computer Arts, XFUNS, and etapes international. As leader of Kima’s cutting-edge design division, Matt has a creative vision that not only brings client projects to life but delivers real value, resulting in maximum impact … every time.

“Understanding the broader use of communications in today’s 24/7 online world necessitates the creation of vehicles that provide ongoing opportunities to enhance messaging and dialogue with your target audience. And, hey, great forward-thinking design will help you own it all.”


PUBLISHING
Patrick Gilsenan, Director, International Projects

Patrick Gilsenan is a writer, editor and journalist with more than 20 years’ experience working with a broad range of publications and companies. For five years, he specifically covered Central Asia and Kazakhstan. Patrick’s work has been published by USA Today, Prime Media, Globe Pequot Press and Frommer’s. Patrick’s experience has perfectly positioned him to develop and manage projects and campaigns for Kima clients.

“Keeping up with global geo-political and economic issues drives how we advise and execute individual nations' projects and align them with their policies and goals.”

[email protected]

Kima Communications operates from Athens, Astana, Larnaca and Washington, D.C.


Managing Editor
MICHELLE WITTE

Michelle currently serves Kima Communications as managing editor of its publication projects, including The Astana Times. Previous experience spans editing grant proposals, writing textbooks, teaching at language centers and universities and performing qualitative research and analysis.

Reporter
DMITRY LEE

Maximizing his education at the Institute of Cultures and Languages, Dmitry serves Kima Communications as an interpreter, contributing writer, designer and public relations manager.

Reporter
YERBOLAT UATKHANOV

Yerbolat brings to Kima Communications extensive experiencing working in marketing for several international medical organizations and has multiple degrees from The East Kazakhstan State Technical University. At Kima, he serves as a research assistant, reporter, writer and editor.


Designer
MARGARIDA MACEDO PEREIRA

A Portuguese communications designer from Lisbon, Margarida holds a Master of Science in Digital Design from the Pratt Institute in New York City. That unique experience in interactive design and motion graphics keeps Kima projects on the cutting edge.