Kiri Sinclair’s Post

The Chief Communications Officer in Focus The importance of bringing greater definition to the role The relationship between businesses and their stakeholders is more complex than ever. Corporates are now expected to take positions on a wide variety of issues such as AI, climate change, DEI, geopolitics and a myriad of societal questions, all of which are invariably polarising and difficult to navigate. As a result, the ability to engage effectively with stakeholders is an essential element of most businesses’ licence to operate, and it carries great risk, as well as great opportunity. The role of the Chief Communications Officer however, remains the most amorphous of functions, with widely varying remits. Sometimes on the Executive Committee (ExCo) but more often not, and typically reporting to the CEO but not always. So, what are the factors that enable the most effective CCOs to successfully help steer their organisations through this complexity? Drawing on our deep expertise in appointing CCOs, as well as recent interviews with leading CCOs, we have identified the key elements that elevate a great individual in this role and the risk businesses face if they fail to define it. Please click here to read the full report: https://lnkd.in/eXdsjHF2 #ExecutiveSearch #Leadership #PR #Communications #Comms

The Chief Communications Officer in Focus Yesterday, Hedley May hosted a group of some of the most senior communications officers in the UK, to discuss our latest piece of thought leadership: The Chief Communications Officer in Focus. Our report highlights how the relationship between businesses and their stakeholders is more complex than ever. Corporates are now expected to take positions on a wide variety of issues such as AI, climate change, DEI, geopolitics and a myriad of societal questions, all of which are invariably polarising and difficult to navigate. As a result, the ability to engage effectively with stakeholders is an essential element of most businesses’ licence to operate, and it carries great risk, as well as great opportunity. The role of the Chief Communications Officer however, remains the most amorphous of functions, with widely varying remits and reporting lines. So, what are the factors that enable the most effective CCOs to successfully help steer their organisations through this complexity? Drawing on our expertise in appointing this role, as well as recent interviews with leading CCOs, we have identified the key elements that elevate a great individual in this function and the risk businesses face if they fail to define it. Please click here to read the full report: https://lnkd.in/ew_K5Kq5 With thanks for their contribution to the report: Caitlin Hayden Richard Menzies-Gow Steve John Andrew Walton Natalie Whitty Paul Fincham George Gordon Claire Dixon David Prager Rowan Adams Kathryn van der Kroft Joakim Reiter Greg Dawson Yasmin Diamond, CB Nick Lakin George Mayhew Fiona Laffan Chris Hogwood Stephen Doherty #ExecutiveSearch #Leadership #PR #Communications #Comms #CorporateAffairs

What would you learn if you interviewed 20 top Comms and Corporate Affairs professionals on how they approach the challenge of polarization? Polarization is absolutely top of mind for Comms leaders - as we know from recent surveys and reports by Page Society and PRovoke Media. So we set out with Stephen Waddington to gather insights from 20 professionals on the top of their game at important organizations, including at many of our partners. Our findings include a changed media environment, a more assertive role for Comms, and the importance of a proactive approach. That includes monitoring and intelligence about the world outside - if you don’t know your terrain, you will lose. There’s so much more to it. A huge thank you to all the participants. I hope you find it valuable. Our summary is in comment 1, with link to download, or you can jump to download the report in comment 2. 🙏

Research from the U.S.-based Corporate Affairs practice at Korn Ferry shows that as corporate reputation and social impact gain importance, company boards are increasingly relying on Chief Communications Officers (CCOs). This includes informal consultations and even board placements. Richard Marshall, one of the two co-authors of this research and head of the corporate affairs practice globally, attributes the trend to CCOs' understanding of the business landscape and expertise in reputation management. Korn Ferry notes that this shift is linked to the current complex and volatile business environment, where corporate reputation can account for up to 25% of a company's market value, according to some estimates. The research goes on to identify five main areas where boards seek CCOs' perspective and, ultimately, support: talent development, through crafting a corporate positioning and narrative capable of attracting and retaining top talent; change management, in connection with M&A transactions, senior leadership transitions, and overall business transformations; social impact, as sustainability, DEI, community relations and more are crucial for growth and talent retention; geopolitics, due to the increasingly complex intertwining of domestic and international policies and regulations and its impact on corporate and executives reputation; and, finally, risk management and crises preparedness. And while all of this might apply to some but certainly not all companies, I still love the conclusion: "Once considered a soft skill, communications is now recognized by more boards as critical to driving value creation." Link to the full research below and comments are always welcome. #corporateaffairs #reputation #reputationmanagement #corporatecommunications #communications #CCO #kornferry #marketresearch #communicationfunction #corporatereputation #valuecreation #marketvalue #expertise #talent #talentdevelopment #corporatepositioning #positioning #corporatenarrative #narrative #change #changemanagement #MANDA #leadershiptransitions #businesstransformations #transformation #socialimpact #impact #sustainability #DEI #communityrelations #geopolitics #executivesreputation #riskmanagement #crises #crisispreparedness #CALI #Page #EACD Andrew Lowe Peter McDermott Page Society European Association of Communication Directors (EACD) Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) IPRA International Public Relations Association HarbourClub FERPI - Federazione Relazioni Pubbliche Italiana

PRCA APAC's recently released Perspectives Report offers valuable insights into how communication professionals across the diverse Asia Pacific region view their role in today's landscape. The report explores current opportunities and threats to reputation for businesses and individuals operating in APAC. This thought-provoking research features perspectives from industry leaders, including our very own PRecious Communications Malaysia Country Manager, Joey Gan. A great resource for anyone working in communications, reputation management, or the APAC business world. Delve deeper and connect with Joey Gan to discuss the key takeaways and their implications for your practice. Full report here: https://lnkd.in/gNcVV3wU #WeBePRecious #PRCA #APAC #ReputationManagement #Communication

Trust matters—now more than ever. According to the 2024 Edelman Trust at Work Special Report, 79% of employees trust their employer. Businesses are leading the pack as the most trusted institutions today.  But a growing divide between leaders and teams is threatening this foundation. Executives are 2.5 times more likely to trust their CEO than associates—a gap leaders can’t afford to ignore. Lily Carlyon explores how business leaders can close the trust gap, build stronger connections, and create lasting success with a strategic approach to internal communications. https://lnkd.in/gbvpgwXA

“Strategy, in the absence of communications, can’t be effective.” This month's 'Opinion of the Month' does a great job summarizing the key themes and trends senior communications leaders spoke about most during our August roundtables. Read August's Monthly Highlights below for more detail, and view our calendar of events here to share your own insights in the future > https://lnkd.in/djZJwEnn

The most recent Business Leaders Survey by the CIPR revealed that whilst business leaders rank reputational risk among their top five concerns, over 40% do not employ public relations support. The survey measured the confidence that organisations place in PR as a business function, with 37% of respondents stating that they would be 'very unlikely' to need agency or consultant PR support. The research data highlights a disconnect between some businesses' understanding of the importance of reputation management and the support that PR professionals can provide. Read the full breakdown of the survey results here: https://lnkd.in/eb8a6WTH #CIPR #PR

A newly published report by the OCR, Observatory on Corporate Reputation shows how the role of the Chief Communications Officer (CCO) is rapidly expanding beyond its traditional boundaries. CCOs at leading global companies across a broad range of industries are increasingly taking on additional strategic responsibilities in areas like Corporate & Public Affairs, ESG, Investor Relations, and even HR and Marketing. For the first time this year, these "CCO-plus" roles — though I'm not a fan of the name — now outnumber traditional CCO positions at Fortune 1000 and Forbes Global 2000 companies. This shift underscores the growing recognition of how the role can further support shaping and protecting corporate strategy while driving business outcomes. To my peers on this channel, please feel free to share your comments and other feedback in the comments section below. #CCO #Leadership #Strategy #CorporateCommunications #Reputation #CorporateStrategy #BusinessOutcomes #CorporateAffairs #PublicAffairs #IndustryRelations #ESG #SocialImpact #Environment #FinancialCommunications #InvestorRelations #Communications #ChiefCommunicationsOfficer #CorporateReputation #Fortune1000 #ForbesGlobal2000 #NewReport #OCR Page Society European Association of Communication Directors (EACD) Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) IPRA International Public Relations Association FERPI - Federazione Relazioni Pubbliche Italiana HarbourClub

Lately, I’ve been having more conversations around the term thought leadership and what it really means, especially in the world of public relations. I’ve realised that many people view it simply as being an expert or knowledgeable in your field, but it's much more than that. For me, thought leadership is about positioning yourself as the voice people trust and turn to for insights and foresight. It’s not just about knowing the industry—it’s about being visible, influential, and shaping the conversations that matter. When you position your brand as a thought leader, you’re not just participating in discussions—you’re leading them. That opens doors to media coverage, partnerships, and speaking opportunities, and gives you the power to influence public opinion and set trends.