Matthew Hiltzik

Early life

Hiltzik was born on May 12, 1972. He grew up in Teaneck, New Jersey. He attended the Yavneh Academy. He graduated from the Ramaz School. He attended the Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations and then the Fordham University School of Law.

Career

Hiltzik is a member of the New York State Bar Association. After law school, he worked as press secretary and deputy executive director of the New York State Democratic Committee under Judith Hope, the first woman to head a major political party in New York. While in that role, he worked on the 1998 campaigns of Chuck Schumer and Eliot Spitzer, and Hillary Clinton's Listening Tour in July 1999. In December 1999, Hiltzik joined Miramax as head of corporate communications. He became senior vice president of corporate communications and government relations, and was involved in public relations for Miramax Films, Miramax Books, Miramax TV, Talk magazine, philanthropic and political fundraising and crisis management.

In 2000, Hiltzik took a brief leave from Miramax to re-join Hillary Clinton's senatorial campaign as the director of Jewish relations. Hiltzik worked on outreach in the Reform, Conservative and Orthodox communities for Clinton's campaign, including making inroads with women in the Hasidic community. He met with leaders in New York's Jewish communities, including the Bobovers Hasidic section.

Hiltzik teamed up with the British publicity company Freud Communications to start up their American branch in 2005. He became Katie Couric's publicist and spokesman shortly before her move from NBC to CBS in 2006. She acknowledged his role in her career in her 2021 memoir Going There.

He maintained his political roots advising Jose Antonio Vargas's DefineAmerican campaign to address immigration policy in the United States and pass the DREAM Act, and Thomas DiNapoli in his successful bid for New York State Comptroller. Hiltzik served on New York City Mayor Bill DeBlasio's 2014 Inaugural Committee. He also advised Reshma Saujani, founder of Girls Who Code, in her primary against Rep. Carolyn Maloney. Hiltzik advised political strategist Lis Smith on crisis management, and encouraged her to write a book about her experiences, which was published as Any Give Tuesday in 2022.

In 2017, Hiltzik was listed on Sports Business Journals "Power Players" list. In August 2021, Business Insider ranked Hiltzik as one of the top public relations people in crisis management, citing his experience working with high-profile clients like Brad Pitt, Eric Schmidt, Katie Couric and Kelly Ripa.

Hiltzik is known for his work helping to build the public image of high profile women including Hillary Clinton, Ivanka Trump, Nicole Shanahan, Couric, and Ripa.

He handled public relations pro bono for Darnella Frazier, the young woman whose recording of the murder of George Floyd helped to inspire protests against police brutality and played a key role in the conviction of Derek Chauvin.

Hiltzik and his team were engaged by attorneys to support litigation in the Johnny Depp trial, and Hiltzik played a primary role in rehabilitating the actor's image during his successful defamation case against Amber Heard. Hiltzik kept a low profile in the media in the aftermath of the trial, while working to encourage support for Depp and revitalize his career.

Hiltzik is also known for coordinating publicity for the 80th Golden Globe Awards, which saw the ceremony return to live television after a brief hiatus. In 2023, he was included on Crain’s New York Business list of the most notable leaders in public relations and The Observer's "PR Power List". He was part of a panel on echo chambers and polarization in media at the Cornell University College of Arts and Sciences on April 19, 2023.

The Observer listed Hiltzik Strategies as one of the top crisis and reputation management firms in 2024, noting that it had "significant growth" in its client base. The firm is known for the high number of former employees who have subsequently become notable in communications and politics, and its low-rates of employee turnover. The firm's alumni include Emily Feingold, head of communications at Netflix; Sarah Rothman, founder of The Lede; Melissa Nathan, founder of The Agency Group; Rachel Rosenzweig, communications director at Thrive Capital; Jeremy Watkins, head of communications for the New York Knicks and New York Rangers; Josh Raffel, a communications executive and former White House aide; Eliana Holm Yamshon, head of Global Head of Employer Brand at BlackRock; Eric Koch, founder of political strategy and communications firm Downfield Strategies; and Hope Hicks, chief operating officer of Devil May Care and former White House Communications Director.

Hiltzik was described as "a leading crisis manager" in a 2025 article from The New York Times, which cited his work with Alec Baldwin, Katie Couric, Kelly Ripa, Brad Pitt and Johnny Depp. He also represented baseball player Shohei Ohtani during the interpreter gambling scandal, and is the spokesperson for internet personality MrBeast.

Since the October 7 attacks in Israel, Hiltzik has worked with the families of missing Israeli hostages to bring about the return of hostages from Gaza. He worked with the family of murdered Israeli-American Omer Neutra for years as they sought the return of Neutra's remains. Omer Neutra's remains were returned to his family in Israel in November 2025.

Film and print media

He was executive producer of the documentary films Documented, The Barn, the award-winning Paper Clips and Holy Land Hardball; and co-produced the documentary Connected. He is also a contributor to the Jewish magazine Tablet.

Recognition and board memberships

In 2012 Hiltzik was honored by the New York Board of Rabbis for his work in the Jewish community.

In July 2015, he was the first public relations professional to be named to the board of directors of the New York City Economic Development Corporation, a not-for-profit corporation that promotes economic growth throughout New York City.

Hiltzik sits on the Board of the Ghetto Film School. In the summer of 2020, during the coronavirus pandemic, Hiltzik suggested that the school's film competition focus on the subject of connection during isolation and lockdown.

Personal life

Hiltzik lives in New York City with his wife, Dana, and their three children.

References

References

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2. Yellin, Deena. "From North Jersey to peak of Israeli power: New prime minister celebrated for local roots".
3. [[Gary Rosenblatt. Rosenblatt, Gary]]. [http://www.jewishjournal.com/arts/article/joining_gangs_to_work_with_the_best_20030103/ "Joining ‘Gangs’ to Work With the Best: Executive producer Rick Schwartz savors a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to work with Martin Scorsese and others."], ''[[The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles]]'', January 2, 2003. Accessed June 5, 2012.
4. Horowitz, Jason. (October 28, 2009). "Profile of public relations guru Matt Hiltzik, a former Democratic operative". The Washington Post.
5. "Matthew Hiltzik: President & CEO of Hiltzik Strategies". The Native Society.
6. Bing, Jonathan. (June 20, 2001). "Miramax ups Hiltzik to VP – Entertainment News, Business News, Media". Variety.
7. Paybarah, Azi. "Hiltzik's Middle East Advice for Obama | The New York Observer". Observer.com.
8. Tomasky, Michael. (2001). "Hillary's Turn: Inside Her Improbable, Victorious Senate Campaign". Simon and Schuster.
9. Harpaz, Beth. (2002-11-20). "The Girls in the Van: A Reporter's Diary of the Campaign Trail". Macmillan.
10. Mohr, Ian. (June 22, 2005). "Hiltzik to interpret Freud's U.S. dreams – Entertainment News, Los Angeles, Media". Variety.
11. Kurtz, Howard. (2007-10-09). "Reality Show: Inside the Last Great Television News War". Simon and Schuster.
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21. ["Andy Cohen Enlists Crisis Comms Guru"](https://www.thedailybeast.com/andy-cohen-enlists-matthew-hiltzik-crisis-guru-who-repped-johnny-depp-harvey-weinsteinwork=The Daily Beast).
22. (2023-06-27). "Notable Leaders in Advertising, Marketing and PR - Matthew Hiltzik".
23. "Jury is out on post-trial career: Johnny Depp's off the screen life may not shake his fan-base". The Economic Times.
24. "'It isn't about politics – it's about money': will Hollywood take Johnny Depp back? {{!}} Johnny Depp {{!}} The Guardian".
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31. Art, Pop Culture &. (2024-08-13). "MrBeast allegedly enlists top PR expert Matthew Hiltzik to revamp image amid scandal".
32. Curotto, Merin. (2025-10-14). "The Crisis King Who Builds Careers: Inside Matthew Hiltzik’s Paradoxical Empire".
33. (2025-11-03). "Remains of Long Island native Omer Neutra returned to Israel by Hamas - CBS New York".
34. Willmore, Alison. (2013-11-19). "CNN Films Picks Up Jose Antonio Vargas' Immigration Documentary 'Documented'".
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39. "Credits". Connected the Film.
40. Anderson, John. (January 22, 2011). "Variety Reviews – Connected – Film Reviews – Sundance – Review by John Anderson". Variety.
41. "Author bio".
42. "Matthew Goldstein and Matthew Hiltzik Honored by NY Board of Rabbis". The Jewish Voice.
43. (2018-05-30). "Matthew Hiltzik of Hiltzik Strategies Named To NYCEDC Board".
44. (2018-12-14). "The Most Powerful PR Firms of 2018".
45. "LEADERSHIP".
46. Pond, Steve. (2020-10-08). "Watch 3 Teen Filmmakers Tackle COVID in Ghetto Film School Competition Winners (Exclusive)".
47. Carrington, Daisy. (February 27, 2006). "Molly Kate Hiltzik". New York Observer.