Stephen Thomas joins The Civic Partnership as partner

The Civic Partnership (“Civic”), a leading strategic communications and public affairs firm, today announced the appointment of Stephen Thomas as Partner.

Thomas will work alongside Managing Partner Mark Hawthorne to further expand the firm’s transactions advisory business.

Thomas’ accomplished career spans more than 25 years of experience in senior consulting and inhouse roles. From 2012 to 2021, Thomas was Head of Group Brand and Communications at AIA Group, where among a wide-ranging remit he led communications for AIA’s financial transactions. Prior to AIA, Thomas was Managing Director and Head of Corporate Affairs for Citigroup in China. As Citigroup China’s spokesperson, he worked closely with teams in New York, Hong Kong, and London on strategic issues and key milestones, including the Bank’s M&A program. Thomas began his career at Burson-Marsteller, working in the firm’s Melbourne and Hong Kong offices. He is the author of Reputations of Value: Winning with Corporate Reputations in an Unpredictable World, published by Penguin Random House in 2024.

Says Hawthorne: “The Civic Partnership has advised clients on nearly A$13 billion in deals over the past two years, including ASX-listed and cross-border transactions with complex FIRB overlays. We intend to build on this momentum and Steve’s expertise in financial transactions and corporate reputation will be invaluable as we strengthen our position in high stakes deal communications. We are thrilled to welcome him to the team.”

On his appointment, Thomas says: “I am delighted to have joined Civic to coincide with my move back to Australia. The calibre of people at the firm is world-class, and I believe that the opportunity to help grow the firm’s work in the transactions space is a significant one. I look forward to helping our clients navigate the considerable opportunities and challenges associated with any significant transaction to help ensure the best possible outcome.”