APCO Sets Up Presence in Kyiv, Appoints Global Business and Government Relations Expert Sonya Soutus to Lead the Team

Kyiv – 11 June 2024: APCO is expanding its European operations in 2024, establishing its presence in Kyiv, Ukraine, CEO Brad Staples announced today.

Speaking about the timing for this expansion, Staples said, “despite the challenging conditions brought on by the war, Ukraine has shown remarkable resilience and strong economic performance. Our clients across a variety of sectors are seeking better insights and more on the ground expertise to navigate Ukraine’s political landscape and growing business opportunities. We are also witnessing more demand from Ukrainian corporates to understand and engage with European markets and attract foreign investment. The APCO team is building on extensive experience working in Ukraine and is capitalizing on that knowledge to meet clients’ needs.”

This effort will be led by Sonya Soutus, who brings to APCO a deep local knowledge of Ukraine and over 30 years of multinational corporate and government relations experience. “We are excited about the opportunities that our new presence in Kyiv will bring,” said Soutus. “Our mission is to enable businesses to succeed in Ukraine by providing them with the insights and strategies they need to thrive in this dynamic market. APCO has an integrated offer of strategic services and a truly global presence which we know will provide significant added value to our clients.”

In a career spanning over 30 years, Soutus has led communications, public affairs, government relations, brand communications, M&A communications and corporate social responsibility strategies for multinational corporations, as well as building and restructuring teams to meet the changing demands of those corporations. She notably served as chief public affairs and communications officer for The Nature’s Bounty Company, having also spent 20 years with The Coca-Cola Company, most recently as senior vice president of public affairs and communications for the Coca-Cola North America Business Unit. Prior to joining The Coca-Cola Company in Ukraine, Soutus served as group director with BursonMarsteller in Kyiv, where she led public education programs for USAID and later helped establish the agency’s first commercial office in that country. She also served as the first press officer for the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in Rome and Ukraine. She is an American of Ukrainian descent. Soutus is a recipient of The Order of St. Olha second degree from President Volodymyr Zelensky and The Order of St. Olha third degree from President Victor Yushchenko.

Ukraine’s economy has shown resilience and continued potential for growth across several key sectors including energy, technology, transportation, and agriculture. With Ukraine’s EU accession process fully underway, an imminent closer relationship with the European Union Single Market will require deep regulatory knowledge and government engagement in Kyiv and across Europe. APCO’s new presence in Kyiv will provide expert guidance to international investors and businesses looking to tap into these promising sectors, as well as strong public affairs and strategic communications abilities.

For more information about APCO’s services in Ukraine, please contact Soutus at ssoutus@apcoworldwide.com.