Brandon Mitchener joins as Brussels Managing Partner

We are pleased to announce that Brandon Mitchener has joined Instinctif Partners Brussels as Managing Partner.

Mitchener, a seasoned strategic communications professional, succeeds Wes Himes at our Brussels Public Policy office. Himes set up the Brussels office as Policy Action before it was sold to Instinctif. After having helped grow both the office and the group for the past 15 years, Himes has decided to return to the United Kingdom and pursue other opportunities.

Mitchener brings almost 30 years of experience. Formerly a journalist for Dow Jones Newswires, The International Herald Tribune and The Wall Street Journal in New York, Frankfurt and Brussels for 15 years Mitchener moved into public relations in 2004.

After working with APCO Europe in Brussels for four years, he led corporate communications for solar power company First Solar Inc. in Europe, the Middle East and Africa and several countries in Asia for four years before joining Monsanto Corp. in 2012 as head of communications for Europe & the Middle East. Most recently, he was Chief Executive Officer of the European Business Aviation Association in Brussels.

Over the course of his career Mitchener has advised dozens of blue-chip companies, business associations, non-governmental organisations and governments on media relations, crisis communications and online communications as well as European public affairs strategies. A citizen of the United States and France, he has also acted as spokesman for Democrats Abroad Belgium.

“I’m humbled to have been selected to lead Instinctif’s Brussels office,” said Mitchener, who has known Wes for many years. “I remember the days when Wes and Lucy Cronin [Managing Partner of Instinctif’s Dublin Office] lobbied me on the EU Copyright Directive when I was still a journalist at The Wall Street Journal. I developed a respect for them both then that helped make it easy to join Instinctif today.”

Warwick Smith, Senior Managing Partner in Instinctif’s Public Policy Practice added: “Wes’ contribution to the Brussels office and the company as a whole has been enormous. Filling his shoes will be no easy task. We are delighted that someone with the experience and distinguished career that Brandon brings to the party is joining us. We look forward to further positive developments of Instinctif Partners’ offer in Europe.”