Karina Byrne Joins H/Advisors Abernathy as Managing Director and Head of the Los Angeles Office
She brings to the firm more than 30 years of issues management and litigation communications experience
We are delighted to announce that Karina Byrne has joined the firm as Managing Director and Head of its Los Angeles office, strengthening H/Advisors Abernathy’s issues management and strategic communications advisory offering for CEOs, board directors, and senior executives.
Karina brings to the firm more than three decades of experience in C-suite strategic communications
counsel, issues management, crisis communications, media relations, litigation and internal
communications. A proven communications advisor, she has counseled CEOs, board directors and senior
leadership teams across heavily regulated industries, particularly in the wealth management, investment
banking, asset management, insurance, technology, industrial, chemical and pharmaceuticals sectors.
“Karina embodies the holistic approach to communications and trusted senior executive counsel that
define H/Advisors Abernathy. A seasoned communications strategist and thought leader, her expertise and
track record of success will elevate the innovative, data-driven and tailored communications counsel we
provide our clients with as they face increasingly complex and rapidly evolving challenges,” said Tom
Johnson, Chief Executive Officer of H/Advisors Abernathy.
Before joining H/Advisors Abernathy, Karina led executive visibility, issues management and media relations campaigns at Teneo and Taras Advisory Group. She previously served as head of corporate communications for Credit Suisse AG’s investment bank, asset management and Americas businesses. Prior to that, she spent a decade at UBS AG, where she was the chief spokesperson for the U.S.-based
wealth management, investment bank and asset management businesses. Karina steered both international financial services firms through numerous legal, regulatory and crisis issues and played a pivotal role in UBS’s restructuring of its American entities during the financial crisis.
“I am excited to join a firm that is so frequently called on to help clients navigate today’s quickly changing
environment, where the convergence of business, political and societal issues create more threats to corporate reputations than ever before,” said Karina. “I have long admired H/Advisors Abernathy and the expertise and long tenure of its executive management and senior advisors. I look forward to
collaborating with the outstanding team in Los Angeles, as well as partnering with the teams across the United States and abroad to grow the firm’s capabilities and services.”