Leadership Lessons with Stéphane Harrouch, Public Affairs Senior Partner at Portland Paris

Camille Chevailler, Senior Consultant at Hanson Search, sat down with Stéphane Harrouch, Senior Partner at Portland Paris, to discuss what leadership in public affairs means today. With a career rooted in politics, polling, and strategic communications across Europe, Africa and the Middle East, Stéphane shares his reflections on the power of empathy, the challenge of long-term planning, and how reputation and trust will define the next decade in communications.

How did you get into communications/public affairs, and what initially attracted you to the field?

I have always been fascinated by the interactions between the media, politics and policymaking, and by what drives and sets the public agenda. More importantly, I was interested in how to shape it and how to develop impactful stories that resonate with different audiences. This is why I have gained experience working in politics, polling, public affairs, media relations and digital communications. These experiences have helped me to combine strategic thinking with effective implementation.

What personal qualities do you think have helped you succeed?

Humility, active listening and empathy. I believe that empathy is key in our job. Being able to put yourself in someone else’s shoes allows you to understand what creates the most impact, what drives change, it enables you to compare perspectives, as well as avoid mistakes.

When I moved to the Middle East, my ability to listen helped me understand cultural nuances and how to engage with people differently to how I would in France.

What are your greatest achievements and most memorable experiences as a communications professional?

There have been many memorable experiences, all of them different. From contributing to COP21 to working in Sub-Saharan Africa during periods of unrest in Mali, each project has offered new lessons in resilience, narrative strategy, and diplomacy under pressure.

In your opinion, what are the essential qualities that today’s leaders—whether agency CEOs, politicians or communications directors—must have?

The ability to step back, stay calm, and provide clarity amid global uncertainty is critical. Strategic leaders also need a strong geopolitical awareness and an empathetic mindset to navigate today’s fast-changing environment.

What are the main challenges you currently face at Portland/with your clients?

The biggest challenge is the lack of long-term visibility due to political, geopolitical and economic uncertainties and rapid change. Due to these it’s difficult to plan, invest, set goals or fixed objectives. This is also why reputation matters more than ever today.

What strategies or approaches do you adopt to overcome these challenges?

During times of volatility, protecting reputation means telling an authentic story. You need to give meaning to your actions and stay aligned with your values. Our approach is a balance of instinct and insight—making decisions backed by intelligence and driven by experience.

How do you see the sector evolving over the next five to ten years?

The next major shift will be in delivering high-value impact to clients and decision-makers. Although AI is beginning to reshape the industry, human strengths, like trust and expertise, will still remain vital. In the reputation industry, these attributes will define success.

Whether you’re hiring top Public Affairs or Communications talent, or considering your next career move, our team would be delighted to support you.

Camille Chevallier leads the Marketing & Communications European practice, covering Corporate Communications, Consumer PR, Financial Communications, Digital, Branding, Advertising and Crisis Communications.

Hanson Search is a globally recognised, award-winning talent advisory and headhunting consultancy. Our expertise lies in building successful ventures worldwide through our recruitment, interim and executive search in communications, sustainability, public affairs and policy, digital marketing and sales.