John Saunders is president and CEO of public relations giant FleishmanHillard and was Irish America’s 2016 Business 100 keynote speaker. 2018 speaking engagements included the Web Summit in Lisbon and the annual Leadership Lecture at Dublin City University. Saunders began his career as a journalist at RTÉ. In 1990, he joined FleishmanHillard and helped it develop into Ireland’s largest public relations consultancy. Prior to his appointment as president and CEO of FleishmanHillard, he served as regional president for Europe, Middle East, and Africa.

Saunders is only the fourth individual to hold his current title in FleishmanHillard’s 72-year history. He is an Honorary Life Member of the Public Relations Institution of Ireland and is in the ICCO Hall of Fame in 2011.

A native of Dublin, Saunders has been married to his wife, Jean, for 38 years. Together they have three children, Colin, Caroline, and Hannah, and two granddaughters, Matilda and Maisie. He currently lives in St. Louis, Missouri, and has been grand marshal of the city’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade. ♦