Kirk Stewart is the founder and CEO of KTStewart. The firm offers clients a full range of communications services including corporate reputation programs, crisis and issues management, corporate citizenship, change management and content creation.

Stewart has more than 40 years of experience in both corporate and agency public relations, having served as global chief communications officer at Nike, chairman and CEO of Manning, Selvage & Lee, and executive director at APCO Worldwide.

At APCO, Stewart played a leading role in serving the firm’s corporate clients and helping broaden and expand the firm’s corporate communications practice. In addition, he served as a member of APCO’s global executive committee.

Prior to joining APCO, he served as global vice president of corporate communications for Nike, Inc. During his eight years with Nike, Stewart was responsible for corporate media relations, brand communication, crisis and issues management, internal communication, community affairs, sustainable development, and stakeholder engagement. He also co-led the global corporate responsibility team.

Previously, Stewart spent 16 years with the global public relations firm Manning, Selvage & Lee, the last four-and-a-half years as its chairman and chief executive officer.

Stewart was named an agency management all-star by INSIDE PR, recognized as one of the 15 most influential leaders in public relations by PRWeek, and received the distinguished journalism alumni award from the USC Annenberg and the Widney Alumni House Award.

He is a member of the Public Relations Society of America, the board of advisors for The USC Center for Public Relations and a trustee of the Institute for Public Relations.

Stewart received his BA in political science and his MA in public relations and journalism from USC, where he is currently an adjunct professor at USC Annenberg.