Patrick Hillmann
Patrick Hillmann is an American business executive specializing in public affairs and regulatory strategy. Hillmann has held leadership positions in a range of industries, including manufacturing, financial technology, and cryptocurrency. His career includes roles at Binance, General Electric (GE), Edelman, and the National Association of Manufacturers.
At Binance, a major global cryptocurrency exchange, Hillmann served first as Chief Communications Officer and later as Chief Strategy Officer. During his tenure, he played a role in the company’s initiatives to address issues such as corruption, fraud, and financial crime. His work included collaborating with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to freeze approximately $200 million in cartel-related funds. Hillmann was also responsible for leading crisis and communications efforts in nearly 100 countries. His responsibilities involved engagement with the United States Department of Justice and coordination with U.S. law enforcement agencies as part of Binance’s regulatory reform and broader compliance restructuring.
Early life and education
Patrick Hillmann earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He later obtained a master’s degree in international public affairs from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he concentrated on economics and quantitative risk analysis. In addition to his academic studies, he completed executive coursework through Harvard Business School’s Business Cases Learning Program.
Hillmann’s professional background spans a range of complex industries such as manufacturing, financial technology, and cryptocurrency. He has provided advisory support to the White House and is noted for his work in international diplomacy, corporate crisis management, regulatory strategy, and communications operations related to emerging technology sectors. While at Olson, he established and led the firm’s crisis management practice. During his tenure, Hillmann led crisis and communications efforts across nearly 100 countries, including engagement with the United States Department of Justice. He supported regulatory reform initiatives, including a company-wide compliance overhaul and coordination with U.S. law enforcement agencies. He was also involved in improving risk management practices and contributed to efforts to freeze illicit funds in collaboration with federal authorities.
Russian-Georgian conflict in August 2008
While pursuing graduate studies in 2008, Hillmann was hired as a consultant for the European Commission’s Directorate-General for External Relations (DG RELEX).<ref name":1" /><ref name":5" /> DG RELEX served as the EU’s main diplomatic body, responsible for formulating, coordinating, and implementing the Commission’s external policies.<ref name=":5" />
Hillmann’s tenure at DG RELEX coincided with the Russian-Georgian conflict in August 2008.<ref name":1" /><ref name":5" /><ref name":6" /> During this period, when much of the Commission’s staff was on holiday, he was among the few personnel available and assisted in the directorate-general’s policy and communications response.<ref name":0" /><ref name":1" /><ref name":5" /> He also managed media coverage for the European Union’s 2008 Conference on Russian Energy Relations and provided strategic communications guidance during high-risk events, including the Russo-Georgian War.<ref name=":5" />
Coors-Molson shooting during Covid outbreak
In February 2020, Hillmann was serving as Executive Vice President for Crisis & Risk at Edelman, a global public relations and marketing consultancy.<ref name":3" /><ref name":1" /> He also held the position of Global Head of Innovation, Crisis, and Risk, where he was responsible for developing crisis response strategies for a broad range of international clients.<ref name":0" /><ref name":1" />
During the week of February 26, 2020, Hillmann was managing multiple high-profile crises. On that day, a mass shooting occurred at the Molson Coors brewery in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where a gunman killed five co-workers before taking his own life. The incident was the deadliest mass shooting in the United States that year. The shooting took place just after 2 p.m. at the company’s Milwaukee campus, which employed approximately 1,000 people. The perpetrator, identified as 51-year-old Anthony Ferrill, was a longtime electrician at the facility. The victims were Jesus Valle Jr., Gennady “Gene” Levshetz, Trevor Wetselaar, Dana Walk, and Dale Hudson, all Molson Coors employees.<ref name=":1" />
At the same time, Hillmann was also responding to the first major U.S. COVID-19 outbreak warnings connected to a Hawaiian resort, managing crisis communications for both events simultaneously.<ref name=":1" />
Affiliations and awards
Patrick Hillmann serves as a board member of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce and as an auxiliary board member of the Lincoln Park Zoo.<ref name":6" /> While at General Electric, he received the 2016 GE Pinnacle Award from the company’s Government Affairs and Policy division.<ref name":6" />
At Binance, a major global cryptocurrency exchange, Hillmann served first as Chief Communications Officer and later as Chief Strategy Officer. During his tenure, he played a role in the company’s initiatives to address issues such as corruption, fraud, and financial crime. His work included collaborating with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to freeze approximately $200 million in cartel-related funds. Hillmann was also responsible for leading crisis and communications efforts in nearly 100 countries. His responsibilities involved engagement with the United States Department of Justice and coordination with U.S. law enforcement agencies as part of Binance’s regulatory reform and broader compliance restructuring.
Early life and education
Patrick Hillmann earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He later obtained a master’s degree in international public affairs from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he concentrated on economics and quantitative risk analysis. In addition to his academic studies, he completed executive coursework through Harvard Business School’s Business Cases Learning Program.
Hillmann’s professional background spans a range of complex industries such as manufacturing, financial technology, and cryptocurrency. He has provided advisory support to the White House and is noted for his work in international diplomacy, corporate crisis management, regulatory strategy, and communications operations related to emerging technology sectors. While at Olson, he established and led the firm’s crisis management practice. During his tenure, Hillmann led crisis and communications efforts across nearly 100 countries, including engagement with the United States Department of Justice. He supported regulatory reform initiatives, including a company-wide compliance overhaul and coordination with U.S. law enforcement agencies. He was also involved in improving risk management practices and contributed to efforts to freeze illicit funds in collaboration with federal authorities.
Russian-Georgian conflict in August 2008
While pursuing graduate studies in 2008, Hillmann was hired as a consultant for the European Commission’s Directorate-General for External Relations (DG RELEX).<ref name":1" /><ref name":5" /> DG RELEX served as the EU’s main diplomatic body, responsible for formulating, coordinating, and implementing the Commission’s external policies.<ref name=":5" />
Hillmann’s tenure at DG RELEX coincided with the Russian-Georgian conflict in August 2008.<ref name":1" /><ref name":5" /><ref name":6" /> During this period, when much of the Commission’s staff was on holiday, he was among the few personnel available and assisted in the directorate-general’s policy and communications response.<ref name":0" /><ref name":1" /><ref name":5" /> He also managed media coverage for the European Union’s 2008 Conference on Russian Energy Relations and provided strategic communications guidance during high-risk events, including the Russo-Georgian War.<ref name=":5" />
Coors-Molson shooting during Covid outbreak
In February 2020, Hillmann was serving as Executive Vice President for Crisis & Risk at Edelman, a global public relations and marketing consultancy.<ref name":3" /><ref name":1" /> He also held the position of Global Head of Innovation, Crisis, and Risk, where he was responsible for developing crisis response strategies for a broad range of international clients.<ref name":0" /><ref name":1" />
During the week of February 26, 2020, Hillmann was managing multiple high-profile crises. On that day, a mass shooting occurred at the Molson Coors brewery in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where a gunman killed five co-workers before taking his own life. The incident was the deadliest mass shooting in the United States that year. The shooting took place just after 2 p.m. at the company’s Milwaukee campus, which employed approximately 1,000 people. The perpetrator, identified as 51-year-old Anthony Ferrill, was a longtime electrician at the facility. The victims were Jesus Valle Jr., Gennady “Gene” Levshetz, Trevor Wetselaar, Dana Walk, and Dale Hudson, all Molson Coors employees.<ref name=":1" />
At the same time, Hillmann was also responding to the first major U.S. COVID-19 outbreak warnings connected to a Hawaiian resort, managing crisis communications for both events simultaneously.<ref name=":1" />
Affiliations and awards
Patrick Hillmann serves as a board member of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce and as an auxiliary board member of the Lincoln Park Zoo.<ref name":6" /> While at General Electric, he received the 2016 GE Pinnacle Award from the company’s Government Affairs and Policy division.<ref name":6" />
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