Dr. Kathy Bloomgarden is CEO of Ruder Finn, one of the world’s largest independent global communications and integrated marketing agencies. With a forward-thinking approach, Bloomgarden has built an agency for the future. She has decades of experience shaping communications that move industry-defining brands, companies, and leaders from what’s now to what’s next. She has built rf.TechLab, one of the industry’s most dynamic in-house tech incubators, that specializes in developing tools and solutions to help brands leverage emerging technologies in data science, modeling, machine learning, AI, and more to solve complex business challenges. Under Bloomgarden’s leadership, TechLab quickly became the catalyst behind a series of industry first innovations, including rf.aio, the first agency GEO tool, and rf.Studio53, Ruder Finn’s AI-powered creative studio.

Bloomgarden is a recognized voice in leadership circles including the World Economic Forum, Fortune CEO Council, WSJ CEO Council, the Council on Foreign Relations, and the Partnership for New York, as well as an incoming member of the PRWeek Hall of Fame, one of the industry’s more prestigious distinctions, and the International Communications Consultancy Organization Hall of Fame. More of her recent recognitions include PR Agency Leader at the Campaign Agency of the Year Global Awards, Agency Global Professional at the PRWeek Global Awards, Outstanding Individual Achievement award at the PRovoke Media Sabre Awards, and a 2025 Pinnacle Award Honoree at the MM+M Pinnacle Awards.

Bloomgarden authored "Trust: The Secret Weapon of Effective Business Leaders" and holds a B.A. in Political Science and French from Brown University, and a PhD and M.A. in Political Science and Chinese from the Columbia University School for International Studies.