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Eric
Kraus

Former chief communications officer at Bacardi Ltd.; former chief communications officer at Covidien, plc

Eric A. Kraus, member of APCO’s International Advisory Council, is a former executive vice president of corporate communications and public affairs for Clean Harbors, North America’s leading provider of environmental, energy and industrial services. Clean Harbors serves a diverse customer base, including a majority of Fortune 500 companies, across the chemical, energy, manufacturing and additional markets, as well as numerous government agencies.

Prior to joining Clean Harbors in 2014, Mr. Kraus was chief communications officer for Bacardi Ltd. In this role, he oversaw the corporate communications, public relations, media relations, financial communications, crisis communications, government affairs, issues management, philanthropy, corporate social responsibility and the company’s corporate Internet/Intranet presence.

Prior to Bacardi, Mr. Kraus was senior vice president, corporate communications and public affairs at Covidien plc. a leading $12 billion global health care products company. In addition to overseeing the spin-off of the health care division of Tyco International and creating the Covidien brand, he was responsible for directing Covidien’s global communications strategies. This encompassed internal/external communication initiatives worldwide, including corporate marketing, branding, public relations, media relations, financial communications, crisis communications, issues management, philanthropy and the company’s Internet/Intranet presence. He also was responsible for establishing policy and strategy for Covidien’s public and government affairs.

Before joining Covidien, Mr. Kraus served as vice president, external relations for the Procter & Gamble Company, a position he assumed following the October 2005 merger of P&G and The Gillette Company. In this position, he had worldwide responsibility for all communications and public affairs strategies and functions. During his tenure, he played a key role in dozens of product launches and marketing campaigns, as well as the development of the Gillette Centers for Women’s Cancers at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Massachusetts General Hospital. He was also instrumental in negotiating the naming rights of Gillette Stadium, home of the NFL’s New England Patriots.

Earlier in his career, Mr. Kraus worked for Miller Brewing Company, BBDO Worldwide and the Boston Herald. He is a graduate of Boston University.