Deloitte today announces the appointment of Mark Hutcheon as reputation management lead in its risk advisory business.

Hutcheon will join as a director in Deloitte’s reputation, crisis and resilience practice, which was enhanced by the firm’s acquisition of Regester Larkin, the specialist crisis and issues management consultancy, in 2016.

His team will help clients from a range of industries to understand, protect and grow their reputations by developing long term strategies, reputation risk management services and leadership coaching. It will also provide reputation risk sensing and tracking products to support this advice.

Hutcheon joins Deloitte from Williams Formula One Group where he was communications and brand director. He has also held similar roles at Samsung Europe and Fitness First Group, and was previously a partner at ReputationInc, a reputation management consultancy.

Andrew Griffin, lead partner of Deloitte’s reputation, crisis and resilience practice, saysm “Mark’s appointment is a clear signal of Deloitte’s intention to expand the range of reputation management services we provide to clients. It also reflects our belief that reputation has risen to the top of the leadership agenda, with 87% of executives now citing it as their number one risk. Mark’s experience, combined with Deloitte’s deep industry knowledge and senior boardroom relationships, means we can offer clients a new type of reputation advice.”

Hutcheon adds, “Reputation is acknowledged by investors and business leaders as an asset worth up to 20% of a company’s value; yet it is at the mercy of a volatile social climate making it harder to manage and grow. To get to the heart of reputation, you need to understand how a company performs and behaves, as well as how it communicates."

The firm has also made a number of other strategic hires to the reputation, crisis and resilience team in recent months, including James Drummond from Portland, Lara Thomas from Lansons and Helen Martin from Tulchan Communications.