Todd Hansen

Senior Vice President
Group Director, Chicago Corporate Practice

Todd Hansen has extensive experience in enhancing and protecting reputations and leading marketing communications initiatives for organizations in diverse industries through media relations, marketing communications, employee engagement, interactive outreach, executive speaking opportunities and community relations. During his career Todd has provided counsel to companies including McDonald’s, Sara Lee, Dunkin’ Brands, PepsiCo, Gatorade, SBC Communications, Office Depot, Deere & Company, Grant Thornton, Hudson Highland Group and COUNTRY Insurance & Financial Services.

A seasoned crisis communications counselor, he has developed and executed communications programs to address public safety and corporate reputation crises, including product recalls, regulatory investigations and facility disasters. Todd has often worked on location during a crisis, providing the communications perspective to the overall strategic planning and serving as a company spokesperson to media, customers and other external audiences. He has also led numerous issues management programs to build alliances to minimize impact of issues related to environmental, litigation or community concerns.

He has extensive experience in working with companies that sell products through franchisee or distributor networks. He has led multiple communications initiatives to bolster marketing campaigns, execute business strategies, assist with community outreach and recruit new franchisee or distributor partners. For example, Todd led a relationship with McDonald’s USA when the company rejuvenated the brand through a strategic business initiative and the launch of the Dollar Menu in 2002-2003. Todd and his team developed and implemented a comprehensive approach -- including employee, franchisee, business and consumer communications initiatives -- to gain support and momentum for the business strategy, sparking a turnaround that ultimately led to more than two years of monthly sales increases.

His media relations efforts have led to thousands of placements on behalf of his clients, in a wide variety of newspapers, magazines, television outlets and radio stations.

Prior to joining Ogilvy Public Relations, Todd served as senior vice president at Fleishman-Hillard/Chicago. He has served on the board of directors for the Publicity Club of Chicago.

Todd is a Denver, Colo., native and a graduate of Beloit College, Beloit, Wis., where he received a B.A. degree in English composition with a journalism minor. As part of his degree, he studied political science and mass communications at the University of Glasgow, Scotland.