Nicholas B. Kalm, President

Nick Kalm brings over 25 years as a communications counselor and strategist to client engagements. With a diverse background that includes management roles at leading public relations agencies and major multinational corporations, Nick has designed and implemented highly-successful programs in corporate reputation, employee/labor communications, crisis/issues management, and stakeholder engagement.

Nick founded Reputation Partners with Jane Devron and Megan Hakes in 2002. The firm is headquartered in Chicago, with satellite offices in Milwaukee, Brussels and Prague. Reputation Partners works with companies ranging from Fortune 100 to start-ups in four key areas: corporate communications, employee/labor communications, crisis/issues management and stakeholder engagement.

Since forming Reputation Partners, Nick has counseled many of the world’s leading corporate brands, including Ace, ArcelorMittal, Equity Office, FedEx, Fifth Third Bank, GE, IBM, Office Max, Owens Corning, VonMaur and dozens of other companies on how to build and strengthen their corporate reputations. Nick is a frequent contributor to various media and is a sought-after speaker on topics such as corporate reputation, labor communications, and crisis management.

Prior to Reputation Partners, Nick spent nearly six years with Edelman, the largest independent public relations agency in the world. There, he served as executive vice president and general manager of Edelman Chicago’s Reputation Management (Corporate) practice and founder/global leader of the firm’s Employee Engagement sector. He was also considered one of the firm’s leading crisis counselors. Under his leadership, the Reputation Management practice grew to become the largest and most successful corporate agency practice in Chicago.

During his career, Nick has worked in or on behalf of a wide range of industries including, advertising, agriculture, automotive, aviation, chemicals, defense, energy, financial services, food, health care, insurance, machinery, paper and building products, retail, staffing, steel, telecommunications and trucking.

Prior to Edelman, Nick was director of corporate public relations for FMC Corporation and spent two years with Ketchum Public Relations where he served as senior vice president and head of the firm’s Chicago corporate practice. Earlier in his career, Nick spent eleven years in public relations/public affairs for two leading pharmaceutical and chemical companies – Ciba-Geigy (now Novartis) and American Cyanamid Company (now part of BASF Corporation).

Nick received his Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Kenyon College in Ohio. He, his wife Tracy and son Jack reside in Evanston, IL.