"The sleep of reason produces monsters." - Goya
Meet the Team
We are a small team of experienced communications professionals that deliver the quality of a big agency without the big agency invoice.
Brandon Mitchener
A journalist and European communications and public affairs consultant, I use my experience to try to help people better understand and shape the world around them. I specialize in political communications strategies and training related to technology, science, sustainability, health and European integration. I delight in fighting and helping others fight fake news, fear, uncertainty and doubt.
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My horizontal experience includes German and European politics and economics, European business regulation, communications strategy and management, key message development and storytelling, media relations, media training, crisis communications, social media, European public affairs, coalition management, association management, and general project and campaign management.
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My sectoral experience includes agriculture, chemicals, food, renewable energy, animal health, public health, information technology, aviation, travel and the automotive industry, among others.
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A citizen of the United States, Belgium and France, I spent the first 15 years of my career as a journalist and foreign correspondent for Dow Jones Newswires, The International Herald Tribune and The Wall Street Journal in New York, Frankfurt am Main and Brussels, respectively. I covered financial markets, German unification, the European automotive industry, the introduction of the euro, European Union summits and European competition, technology and food safety policies, among other topics.
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Since moving to Brussels in 1998, for four years each, I led communications for consultancy APCO Europe, was head of communications for solar energy leader First Solar Inc. in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, China, Thailand, India and Vietnam, and led corporate communications and marketing for agricultural technology leader Monsanto Co. in Europe and the Middle East (before it was bought by Bayer).
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I created my own company in January 2017. Since then, my clients have included the European Business Aviation Association, of which I was CEO for a year; the European Chemicals Industry Council (Cefic), for which I wrote its Mid-Century Vision, Molecule Managers; the Federation of European Risk Management Associations; the Brussels office of Instinctif Partners, where I led the office and served clients all across Europe for four years; IP Europe, Science|Business, Boehringer-Ingelheim, Oswell & Vahida, Logos Public Affairs (for the 5GAA Automotive Association) and Robot Creative, among others. I also still occasionally write, including for Science|Business and The Brussels Times.
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I have a Master’s of Science in Journalism from Columbia University in New York and a Bachelor of Arts degree in German and international relations from Wabash College in Indiana.
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I speak English, German, French and Italian and am currently learning Greek. I have two grown sons. A licensed sommelier, I run a successful small side business around wine education and wine sales (see link below).
JOHN HOLLAND
Following a 20+ year journalistic career in international general and business news across the European Union, the Middle East and Africa, John has since worked as a communications specialist for two decades.
His on-site and on-line work with clients includes public speaking, media training, strategic communications, external and internal communications messaging, and moderation. Over the decades he has worked in nearly all 44 countries in the EU and continental Europe, as well as throughout the Middle East and Africa.
John retains a strong field ethos and “getting it right, telling it well” credo while advising clients on creating clear, accurate and impactfully spoken and written communication in an age of mis- and disinformation risk.
He continues to work with all the main EU institutional bodies, numerous diplomatic missions, NGOs and IGOs located across the EU and its Neighbourhood countries, including the Western Balkans, MENA and Eastern Partnership regions.
He long worked at CBS News as a network radio correspondent and television field producer, as a former Frankfurt Bureau Chief at CNBC Europe business news, and as a frequent correspondent for The Times of London and Macleans Magazine of Canada.
KEIR BONINE
Keir is a talented, native-English speaking writer and seasoned communications strategist with a keen interest in sustainability, innovation and technology. Based in Belgium for some three decades, Keir started his career as an aerospace journalist and then served as editor-in-chief of the NATO Review. He then took on senior corporate communication roles, including as consultant and advisor to top European and global companies and organizations.
Harnessing his cross-sector knowledge and communications expertise, Keir helps businesses and associations have a measurable impact in stakeholder outreach. He can draw on his significant experience in European and Atlantic affairs, and across several industries, including aerospace, automotive, chemical, financial services, logistics and health sciences.
Keir is proficient in designing and implementing communication strategies and campaigns (including digital and social media), as well as managing media relations. The common thread through his varied background and know-how is his compelling writing and message creation; he can present complex issues in a clear, concise and engaging narrative for all types of media.
Recent examples include, preparing executive communications, press releases, web content and articles on innovation and sustainability for DOMO Chemicals and Chemours. Other examples include organizing media relations, preparing executives for interviews and devising communication strategies for organizations like the European Business Aviation Association (EBAA), Deutsche Post DHL and Janssen Pharmaceutica (J&J).
Keir is a US/Belgian dual national with English (native), French and Dutch languages. He has an MA in International Relations from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies and studied at Sciences Po (IEP) in Paris.
ABOUT TERRE MIELI CIELI ADVISORS
We believe all good communications need to start with personality and authenticity, so our company is closely connected to our experiences. Brandon loves Italy and Italian. Terre Mieli Cieli is Italian for "earth", "honey" and "sky", respectively. Why earth? Because he grew up in farm country, worked in the agribusiness sector and believe in keeping things simple, or down to earth. If the common man can't understand what you're saying, you have already lost the battle. Honey symbolizes the fruits of the land and of our labor, from food to wine to airplanes, life-saving medicines and intellectual property. It's also the sweet spot when we get a story right. And sky? Because Brandon worked in the solar and aviation sectors and because we need to aim high, settle for realistic, and always pay attention to context: There's no point planting corn in the desert or pitching a message or story that's too weak to command people's attention at a given moment in time.
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This website is about the team's strategic communications consulting work. If you're interested in Brandon's wine business, please visit his other website.