The view from the States

Leading US-based communicators share their insights into the public relations landscape in their country

 

Continuing our series marking the Global Excellence Awards – an international celebration of the best in PR and communications hosted by Communication Director – we asked four jury members of the North American Excellence Awards to share their experiences of leading communications across the continent.

Between you, you represent decades of professional experience in corporate communications. During your careers, what have been some of the biggest developments in the way communicators work?

MARJORIE BENZKOFER The obvious answer is technology. When I started at ComEd in 1993, I used a pager and a cell phone that came in a large shoulder bag. But perhaps more subtle and even more profound is the interconnectiveness of stakeholders. Then we could talk to employees through one channel, regulators through another, each in its own swim lane. But today they talk to each other and we have to be taking a holistic approach managing reputation. Usually when companies do stakeholder research it is with one or two audiences, rarely taking a 360 degree view. When we don’t invest in research to listen to what our multiple stakeholders are saying and thinking, we create blind spots for our organisations that can have lethal effects.

Nicholas Ashooh

Nicholas Ashooh is senior director of corporate and executive communication at APCO Worldwide, where he focuses on providing corporate communication services to C-suite clients. He is also a member of APCO’s International Advisory Council. Nick has more than 37 years of experience in corporate communications, serving as senior communications officer at five Fortune 500 companies across several sectors, including energy and utilities, financial services, insurance, metals and mining, and entertainment. Most recently, he served as vice president of corporate affairs for Alcoa, a global metals and mining giant. There, he was responsible for media relations, community relations, internal communications, marketing communications and corporate reputation. He also oversaw the Alcoa Foundation, one of the largest corporate foundations in the United States, and was a member of Alcoa’s Executive Council, which set strategy for the company.

Marjorie Benzkofer
Marjorie Benzkofer leads FleishmanHillard's work around The Authenticity Gap – customised solutions that improve organisations’ ability to authentically engage with their stakeholders. She regularly works with C-suite executives to manage both brand and reputation through highly effective change management programmes, branding and marketing campaigns, media programmes, executive engagement efforts, coalition campaigns and community relations. Marjorie leads the firm’s thought leadership efforts at the Center On Reputation, an online and virtual centre that hosts commentary, events and training for seasoned executives throughout the industry. Prior to joining FleishmanHillard in 1997, Marjorie worked in corporate communications for ComEd, the energy delivery company.
Andy Pharoah

Andy Pharoah is senior vice president of corporate affairs, sustainability and strategy for the Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company. Reporting to the Wrigley president, Martin Radvan, Andy is a member of Wrigley’s Leadership Team, the Mars Corporate Affairs Leadership Team and the Mars Sustainability Leadership Team. His responsibilities encompass all aspects of corporate affairs, leadership of global sustainability, and leadership of the development and deployment of Wrigley business strategy. Andy joined Wrigley in 2008 as EU corporate affairs director based in Munich. Previously he spent 13 years with international communications consultancy, Hill & Knowlton, where he worked with a wide range of companies, governments and NGOs, as Head of the Corporate Practice for Europe, Middle East and Africa. His early career was spent working in UK politics. Andy Pharoah is vice president of the Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company Foundation; a member of the board of directors for Keep America Beautiful; and president of the International Chewing Gum Association.

J. Christopher Preuss

J. Christopher Preuss is the senior vice president of marketing and communications at Delphi Automotive, a position he has held since September 2014. He also serves as the chairperson of the Delphi Foundation. Christopher came to Delphi with more than 25 years of global communications experience as well as perspective gained from his role as president and CEO of OnStar — a leader in in-vehicle safety, security, communications and convenience services. Prior to joining Delphi, Christopher was head of communications for the Americas and Global Product at Ford Motor Company, a role he assumed shortly after leading a multi-agency team serving the global Ford accounts at WPP Group. Christopher’s career also includes more than 13 years at General Motors, where he held various leadership roles. In addition to leading OnStar, he also served as vice president of global communications where he was instrumental in managing the company’s transition out of bankruptcy. Before that he was GM’s vice president of European communications in Zurich, Switzerland. His time at GM also includes an assignment based in Washington DC and focused on various government and regulatory issues.