About Us
advising on risk, reputation and leadership in complex environments
Marland Sykes is a strategic communications and public affairs consultancy advising boards and senior leadership on complex, high‑stakes issues where risk, reputation, governance and stakeholder expectations converge.
In an increasingly volatile, uncertain and highly scrutinised environment, organisations are required to make critical decisions under pressure, often where commercial, regulatory and reputational considerations are closely interconnected. We work alongside leadership teams to provide clear, independent advice and practical support in these situations, helping them navigate complexity, manage risk and maintain control.
Our work sits at the intersection of strategic communications, reputation, governance, public affairs and policy. We support clients across crisis and risk, stakeholder engagement, regulatory and political environments, and leadership decision‑making — particularly where issues are complex, contentious or highly visible.
Marland Sykes brings together senior, highly experienced consultants drawn from across business, government and regulated sectors. Our network model enables us to assemble the right expertise for each assignment, providing flexible, high-quality support tailored to the specific needs of our clients.
We combine senior strategic counsel with hands-on operational delivery, working closely with leadership teams before, during and after critical moments. Our approach is grounded in judgement, experience and a clear understanding of how decisions are made and understood under pressure.
Katherine Sykes
FoundER, CHIEF EXECUTIVE, SENIOR CONSULTANT
Katherine Sykes FCIPR Chart.PR is a trusted adviser to boards and senior leadership on strategic communications, public affairs, crisis, reputation, risk and organisational resilience in complex, high-pressure environments. She is the Founder and CEO of Marland Sykes, an experienced director, non-executive director and trustee, with a strong interest in governance and board effectiveness.
A former City solicitor, Katherine brings more than 30 years’ experience spanning law, public affairs, strategic communications and governance. Her work sits at the intersection of risk, reputation and leadership, helping organisations to navigate uncertainty, manage scrutiny and make well-judged decisions under pressure.
Her perspective is shaped by a distinctive combination of legal, regulatory, political and reputational insight, developed through her careers as a City lawyer, External Affairs Director and Non-Executive Director. She advises on complex, high-stakes issues where operational, regulatory and reputational considerations converge, and is particularly recognised for her work in crisis, reputation and risk management, governance, policy and organisational resilience.
Her expertise stretches across healthcare, health and wellbeing, nutrition, food and drink, consumer brands, FMCG, retail, medical and pharmaceutical products, the NHS, professional services, regulated industries, politics, livery companies and numerous charities.
Katherine is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations and a Chartered PR Practitioner. She is also the Founder and Co-Chair of the CIPR Crisis Communications Network, which drives best practice and promotes excellence in crisis communications. Her contribution to the profession has been recognised through multiple CIPR Volunteer Recognition Awards, including Outstanding Leadership (2023 and 2024), Leading Practice Development (2025), and in 2026 both Leading Best Practice and Outstanding Long Service.
She is a Past Master of the Worshipful Company of Communicators (2017-18), a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, a CEDR accredited mediator, a PRINCE2-qualified project manager, a member of the Law Society of England and Wales, and holds a postgraduate diploma in Crisis Communications.
some of Our clients past and present
