In this episode of Communication Breakdown, Steve Dowling and Craig Carroll dig into new research from the Observatory on Corporate Reputation examining who leads communications and corporate affairs at roughly 1,900 major companies, and who among them is making it onto corporate boards. While the number of communications executives holding board seats has grown over the past decade, new appointments have fallen sharply since 2024. Steve and Craig explore what may be behind that decline, whether communications expertise itself is valued in the boardroom, and why executives with broader portfolios appear more likely to reach senior ranks and board positions. They also examine the distinction between communications and corporate affairs, the rise of legal and policy-focused structures, and why being excellent at communications may still be a valuable career strategy in its own right.

Takeaways

• Communications leaders remain rare on corporate boards, with only two new appointments identified between 2024 and 2026 compared with 13 between 2021 and 2023.
• Board selection may have less to do with communications expertise itself and more to do with broader executive experience, business judgment, and responsibilities that boards already know how to evaluate.
• Communications leaders with broader portfolios tend to hold more senior titles, but the research does not yet establish whether broader responsibilities lead to seniority or whether trusted senior executives are simply given broader responsibilities.

Topics Mentioned
corporate boards, chief communications officers, corporate affairs, board appointments, communications leadership, executive career development, CCO Prime, CCO Plus, business judgment, organizational structure, non-market strategy, market strategy, government relations, public affairs, legal affairs, general counsel, marketing, human resources, policy, social impact, reputation, executive seniority, organizational design, business acumen

Companies Mentioned
Spencer Stuart, NBC, GE, Nike, Johnson & Johnson, Wayfair, Kenvue, Citibank, Travelers, Best Buy, Microsoft, MetLife, PepsiCo, McDonald’s

Episode Hashtags
#SpencerStuart #NBC #GE #Nike #JohnsonAndJohnson #Wayfair #Kenvue #Citibank #Travelers #BestBuy #Microsoft #MetLife #PepsiCo #McDonalds #CorporateCommunications #CorporateAffairs #ChiefCommunicationsOfficer #CCO #BoardOfDirectors #CorporateGovernance #CommunicationsLeadership #ExecutiveLeadership #PublicRelations #ReputationManagement #NonMarketStrategy #GovernmentRelations #PublicAffairs #OrganizationalDesign #ExecutiveCareer #ShawnPNeal #AdvoCast #OCRNetwork

Communication Breakdown is a production of the Observatory on Corporate Reputation.
Hosted by Craig Carroll and Steve Dowling.
Produced in partnership with Advocast Leadership Advisory and  Shawn P Neal.

For questions, feedback, or episode suggestions, reach out at podcasts@ocrnetwork.com