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FINN Partners Promotes Two from its US Travel Practice: Catherine Colford to Senior Partner of Maverick Creative, and Caroline Keane to Vice President of FINN Partners

December 11, 2024

 New York, NY – FINN Partners, a leading global integrated marketing and communications agency, today announced the promotions of two members of its US Travel Practice: Catherine Colford to Senior Partner of Maverick Creative, and Caroline Keane to Vice President of FINN Partners. Both women bring extensive public relations and communications experience to their respective roles, including an especially keen understanding of the ever-changing media landscape and emerging trends within the luxury hospitality space.

“Catherine and Caroline have both been integral to the growth of our client portfolio and are leaders of our agency, celebrated for their creative and innovative thinking and strong media relations experience as well as developing and implementing standout strategies for clients to meet their goals and grow their businesses,” said Jennifer Hawkins, Managing Partner, who heads FINN Partners’ US Travel Practice. “It brings me great joy to see their talent rewarded, and to know that I can count on them to show up every day bursting with exuberance to keep our travel clients front-of-mind with top-tier media.”

Catherine Colford, Senior Partner

Catherine has been driving creative communications strategies for hospitality and travel brands since joining Hawkins International as a Media Relations Specialist over a decade ago. In 2019, she worked closely with Jennifer Hawkins to spin off Maverick Creative as an affiliate agency and was appointed Managing Director. In the years since, she has overseen the agency’s growth to nearly 20 full-time team members and a diverse portfolio 20+ clients, including global hospitality companies such as Rocco Forte Hotels and Hyatt’s Boundless Portfolio; boutique and iconic hotels like The Point in the Adirondacks, L’Auberge de Sedona, and The Shelbourne Dublin; and fast-growing hospitality management companies including Coury Hospitality and Playa Hotels & Resorts. The agency also works with creative travel services such as Sensible Weather and Medjet.

A hands-on leader who enjoys mentoring the team as much as as developing and spearheading press-worthy campaigns such as “Hyatt Loves Local” for Hyatt and “Ladies First” for Thompson Hotels, Catherine has shaped Maverick Creative’s reputation as a creative communications agency with a modern approach to storytelling that encompasses not just strong media relations, but also partnership development, social media strategy, content creation, and executive thought leadership. She also has a talent for openings, having launched or relaunched more than 50 hotels, hospitality brands and travel startups, from Hôtel Plaza Athénée in Paris to The Loren in Bermuda to Flytographer travel photography. 

Meanwhile, Maverick Creative has become a key player in FINN Partners’ larger global Travel network as an independent agency with its own bespoke and boutique approach to contemporary communications, with clients enjoying access to FINN’s far-reaching resources and experts around the world. All of the above has borne fruit, with Maverick Creative recognized with Next Gen Awards from The PR Net as Travel Agency of the Year in 2023 and 2024.

Caroline Keane, Vice President

A veteran media guru with a specialized approach to modern communications, Caroline has become a trusted resource to the media, working collaboratively to create impactful stories that align with her clients’ brand missions and business goals. Counting eight years of industry experience, Caroline works with independent luxury hotels, private aviation innovators, and the world’s leading luxury travel brands from resorts to safari outfitters, while keeping her fingers firmly on the pulse of the US media to sharpen her own and FINN Partners’ understanding of how best to get the latest client developments on the radars of writers and editors at top-tier outlets.

Along the way, Caroline has built a proven track record of repositioning, reinvigorating, and launching grand dame hotels, safari lodges, and major luxury hospitality brands, while also carving a niche in promoting the talents that serve as the fabric of the hospitality industry including chefs, general managers, concierges, and more. Among clients currently on Caroline’s plate for media relations strategy are Wilderness, Gstaad Palace, Hermitage Bay in Antigua, Puente Romano Beach Resort and El Palace in Barcelona, and other luxury leaders. She has worked with many clients for the past five years, shepherding them through the pandemic era and successfully navigating the post-Covid rebound in travel, even as she focused on growing her own strategic vision, deep-rooted client + media relationships, and bottomless understanding of both the luxury industry and the nuances of navigating a mediascape that never sits still.