Matt Ward

Matt Ward is a Managing Director in FTI Consulting’s Strategic Communications segment, with expertise at the intersection of reputation management, digital brand enhancement, crisis communications and business transformation for the financial services sector. Mr. Ward is based in New York.

With a career bridging public service, in-house leadership and agency consulting, Mr. Ward is a corporate affairs executive at the forefront of integrating data, AI, and digital strategy into reputation, brand, and stakeholder management. He has counseled policymakers and executives on a wide spectrum of priorities, including external positioning, crisis and issues, transaction communications, change management and transformation.  

Most recently, Mr. Ward served as Head of Communications for Corebridge Financial, where he drove employee communications, media relations, social media and digital reputation after the firm’s spin out of AIG. He utilized analytics, SEO/SEM, generative engine optimization (“GEO”) and AI tools to modernize communications efforts and demonstrate measurable impact. Previously, Mr. Ward was Head of U.S. Communications and Americas Media Relations for HSBC, where he was a member of the U.S. executive committee and played a central role in guiding the bank through a period of strategic transformation. He led external and internal communications during a time of significant change, including business exits, leadership transitions and strategic repositioning, ensuring alignment across media relations, employee communications and digital engagement.

Before HSBC, Mr. Ward was Vice President at H+K Strategies, where he advised Fortune 500 clients and global brands on strategic positioning, media relations and change communications. He led integrated campaigns designed to support corporate transformation, strengthen reputation and navigate sensitive stakeholder issues, blending traditional PR with analytics and digital strategy to help clients manage complexity and deliver value. Earlier in his career, Mr. Ward was Associate Director of Media Relations and Public Affairs at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. He played a key role in rebuilding public trust following the financial crisis, developing communications strategies to address reputational risk and improve public perception. His work included high-stakes media relations and crisis communications, and he led media relations for enhanced supervisory standards, student debt, unconventional monetary policy, housing and small business lending.

Mr. Ward graduated with honors from The William Paterson University of New Jersey and completed a graduate program in Public Relations Strategy and Execution from New York University.