Ben Trounson

Mixing Board

Invite-only community of communications and marketing leaders, elevating the business impact of the functions, sharing expertise, and providing mentorship.

Member

Daikin U.S. Corporation

VP, Head of Corporate Communications

Verizon

VP, Head of Global Communications, Verizon Business

Bristol Myers Squibb

VP, Head of International Corporate Affairs

Tata Consultancy Services

Head of Global Markets Corporate Communications

Head of North American Corporate Communications

Finn Partners

Partner, Technology Practice

Hill & Knowlton

SVP, Director of NYC Marketing Communications Practice

Ketchum

VP, Client Service Director

Taylor Global

Account Director

Kodora Communications

Media Manager

VP, Global Corporate Communications with 20+ years of experience leading corporate affairs across internal, external, executive, and crisis communications strategies. Deploying diverse global brand plans, thought leadership campaigns, employee culture and change initiatives, product GTMs, and partner programs for Verizon, Bristol Myers Squibb, and Tata Consultancy Services, among others. A team builder and mentor, and C-suite advisor, creating data-led strategies to transform business impact and drive enterprise collaboration, engagement, advocacy, reputation, and revenue.

Vice President of Communications, Verizon Business

Time with family is so important. I spent last week in England visiting my father on the coast of Cornwall near Land's End.  

We all work hard, but need to prioritize some time to make more memories. I enjoyed the basics. Walks across the beach cliffsides, board games, ancient pubs, Cornish pasties (yum), and lots of rain... 

But more than anything, just time talking with my father. I heard stories about his childhood and family history that I had never heard before... after all these years. You don't get these moments until you slow down and disconnect, even for a day or two. 

With Thanksgiving this week, I'm wishing all U.S. friends and colleagues a wonderful time with their families. Try finding some quality 1-1 time with your parents or grandparents and ask about their childhood. You might hear a few amazing stories for the first time, and be able to pass them on!

#family #history #storytelling

VP & Global Head of Corporate Communications | Reputation & Issues Management Expert | Former Verizon, National Grid, TCS | C-Suite Advisor | Driving Trusted Brands & Teams

I had a blast at the Axios Communicators Live NYC event last night. 

A few quick highlights from the main stage sessions:

1. Anthropic's Sasha de Marigny was refreshingly transparent: they’re not entirely “Claudifying” comms; they’re hiring an AI ops role to support strategic humans.

2. Ray Day, APR of Allison Worldwide noted two-thirds of comms leaders work with CEOs on major decisions. As a profession, we need to consistently add value and demonstrate business acumen and impact to increase these numbers! 

3. Meridith Webster of Estée Lauder stated that corporate narrative builds trust, and brand activations make them human. Strong comms blends both.

Cheers to Eleanor Hawkins and Hope King for hosting.  
 
Thanks to Amanda Coffee and Joanie Sanders for such a fun and packed comms happy hour before the Axios event.

And it was lovely to see so many friends and former colleagues: Daniel Méndez Aróstica, MBA, Daniel Nestle, Todd Grossman, Shauna Elkin, Abenaa (Abby) Hayes (she/her/hers), Brooke Kruger, Selena Strandberg, Ben Rose, Leah Katz, Ethan McCarty, Maril Gagen MacDonald.

December kicks off a week of communications events in NYC.

I enjoyed a fun session last night, meeting fellow comms pros and sharing POVs on a host of topics. Thank you Amanda Coffee, APCO NY and Ragan Communications and PR Daily for hosting.

This Wednesday, Edelman has the global launch of its latest Trust Barometer Flash Poll at 11 am EST (AI at an inflection point). 

And on Thursday, Axios is hosting its 4th annual Communicators Live event in NYC. A great line-up of speakers, comms leaders emerging as vital trusted advisors as companies face:
- Siloed audiences
- Political polarization
- Cultural complexities
- Workplace transformation
- And, yes, AI disruption

Looking forward to seeing many former colleagues and friends on Dec 4.

The Chief Communications Officer has become a strategic sense-maker, tasked with navigating a polycrisis of fused geopolitical, societal, and technological risk. 

This was one of several key points that jumped out in the Ipsos Reputation Council Report 2025. It's worth the read. Few other findings of note.

- With non-stop social fragmentation and issue cycles, business leaders are embracing strategic silence more often — not as avoidance, but as a deliberate act of prioritization and navigation of a pragmatic ESG era. 

- Today's communications leaders have been pushed far beyond functional expertise, helping organizations interpret fast-moving risks, look around corners, align internally, and act with clarity in moments that matter.

#communicationsleadership #strategiccommunications #crisiscommunications

The “17, 70, 0” rule just reframed my view of the jobs vs AI debate.

In the latest Trending Communicator episode, Daniel Nestle’s guest, Chris Gee, reminded us that our economy still runs on people (their work, income and participation). 

Chris cited the 17, 70, 0 rule:
17 → $17T in U.S. consumer spend
70 → 70% of U.S. GDP depends on it
0 → what AI will spend 

What does this mean? The US economy depends upon people having jobs and incomes to buy things. AI and agents won't be these "consumers" of goods.  

My take? We need significant coordination across industries, governments, academia, and NGOs to reskill and upskill at scale. 

Every major tech shift has displaced jobs and created new ones — but the speed and scale of displacement this time really raises the stakes and legit concerns.

And for those just entering the workforce, I feel for them. We owe the next generation more pathways to secure roles, learn and grow. 

Check out the episode (details in comments).

#strategiccommunications #AIincomms #futureofwork #AIjobs

Salient Communication Group

Associate Consultant

Ex: Sage, British American Tobacco, Anglo American, Aon

Senior Communications Consultant, Copywriter, Coach, Mentor, Speaker

B&R Industrial Automation

• Communications consultancy, strategy, planning, and delivery for Sustainability, including narrative, key messaging, content for external and internal channels.
• Developed the communications strategy and plan for the first Austrian Apprentice Program, including key messaging, and content for external and internal channels.
• Supported the Corporate Communications team on a range of projects, including channel strategy, HR transformation, and IT change.

Key achievements
• Delivered Sustainability Communications Strategy and Plan for 2024 and beyond.  
• Helped to hire the first cohort of apprentices for the company's first Apprentice Program. 
• Shaped the re-structuring and re-positioning of the Corporate Communications Team as strategic advisers and business partners, aligned more closely to the company's strategic priorities.

Communications Strategist - Sustainability and Employer Brand

Capgemini

• Created and delivered the communication strategy and plan, including story, branding, positioning, messaging and content for the Cloud Next (public cloud) global transformation programme.
• Developed and implemented an integrated communications strategy, including Product Marketing and Sales Enablement, to support the re-positioning of the Cloud Portfolio internally and externally (GTM).
• Supported the strategic re-direction of the Employee Experience portfolio internally and externally (GTM), including sector-specific Business Development.

Key achievements
• Launched the communications strategy that supported +18% growth in public cloud revenue in 2022. 
• Helped to generate 700+ new business leads through Cloud Portfolio Push Offer Campaign. 
• Re-shaped the Employee Experience portfolio, and created a clearer and simpler story and messaging, to better align to business strategy.

Communications Consultant - Cloud Infrastructure Services 

Sage

• Developed, delivered and embedded the global internal communications strategy to educate, engage and align employees in support of Sage’s purpose, vision, strategy, culture and values. 
• Lead strategic internal communications coach and advisor to Executive Committee, including CEO and CPO. 
• Improved communications capability of executive leaders and line managers through training and tools. 
• Senior communications advisor on global strategic transformation and change programmes.
• Managed global communication channels, brought new channels on stream, upgraded others and adapted channel mix in response to audience data and insights.
• Built and upskilled the Group Internal Communications team as part of the Corporate Affairs function.
• Coordinated the regional communication leaders to ensure effective landing of global communications.

Key achievements
• Launched first-ever programme of regular strategy briefings for Executive Team (top 50). 
• Employee engagement (eNPS) increased +50 points from 2018-2021, and increased during Covid-19
• Glassdoor score increased more than 1.7 points in the last 3 years (to a record high of 4.6) – improved internal communications was consistently given as a reason for this in reviews
• In November 2020 Steve Hare was named Number 1 CEO by Glassdoor – with internal communications cited as a key factor  
• Group Internal Communications Team Highly Commended for leadership communications at the Corporate Communications Awards 2020 
• Lead communications advisor on global strategic change programmes, including crowd-sourced values refresh and successful integration of North American business with Sage Intacct 
• Launched new communication channels (inc. Yammer) to address identified gaps in collaboration, leadership communications and audience relevance, and promoted two-way feedback
• Strengthened the capabilities, service level and reputation of the Group Internal Communications team, resulting in high eNPS score (+25)

Group Internal Communications Director

#ChatTalent

Regularly post articles on candidate experience and other TA/HR-related topics.

Contributing Writer

Takeda

• Designed and deployed global employer brand and recruitment marketing strategies that positioned Takeda as an employer of choice internally and externally, targeted at the most critical talent segments.
• Managed and optimized Takeda’s brand presence on top career channels and social communities, working in partnership with global internal communications teams.
• Consistently educated and influenced key internal stakeholders on employer brand and recruitment marketing strategies and executions.
• Acted as strategic advisor and central point of contact for questions regarding employer branding activities to leverage best practice, ensure consistency of brand execution and reduce duplication.
• Established a framework and guidelines that empowered global business units and functions to turn global employer brand and recruitment marketing strategies into local activation strategies and plans. 
• Helped regional leaders adapt global digital employer brand and recruitment marketing strategies, with a focus on leveraging the latest social tools and technologies to create a highly engaging candidate and employee journey that reflected Takeda's brand values and was measurable.
• Continually evaluated talent industry trends, and recommended innovative strategies to improve the candidate and employee experience, as well as Talent Acquisition efficiencies.
• Partnered with internal stakeholders to gain a deep understanding and insights into the global labour market, market trends and requirements and harnessed these to inform employer branding strategies.
• Tracked milestones and timelines across projects, analyzed and communicated project risks and issues as necessary, made adjustments to project plans, timelines or resources that ensured successful project delivery.

Global Strategic Employer Brand and Communications Director

• Developed and executed the regional strategy that launched Takeda’s employer brand to external and internal stakeholders across all business units and functions, the European HQ and 32 local operating countries.
• Partnered and influenced multiple stakeholder groups at global, regional, HQ and local levels to ensure a strategic, integrated and aligned approach to employer brand across Takeda. 
• Coached senior leaders on employer branding in order to role model change and drive engagement. 
• Designed and delivered an employer brand training programme that empowered HR and 
Communications teams to own and activate the brand at a functional and local level.   
• Facilitated workshop-based learning for employees to help them experience the employer brand and understand their role to deliver it. 
• Established a framework and guidelines that enabled internal stakeholders to translate Takeda’s employer brand and employee experience into impactful local activation strategies. 
• Designed and deployed regional employer brand campaigns from insights to execution.
• Delivered an enhanced employee experience through the consistent application of an engaging employer brand at all touchpoints.
• Devised the channel strategy (external and internal facing, including digital/social) to reach the right audience, with the right message at the right time. 
• Created and curated content that brought the Takeda employer brand story to life in a way that positioned the company as an employer of choice in the region.

Strategic Employer Brand and Communications Director

British American Tobacco

• Led strategic internal and change communications and employee engagement across the BAT Group.
• Acted as strategic adviser and coach to the Management Board Directors.
• Led the Group Internal Communications Team – coaching, mentoring and building capabilities.
• Facilitated the leadership teams of the Group functions to creatively address change communications.
• Trained onboarding employees, introducing them to functional and communication strategy. 
• Designed and delivered innovative, multi-channel cascades for internal and change communications.  
• Provided strategic consultancy to local markets on their internal and change communication approaches and plans to build capabilities.

Group Senior Internal Communications Manager

Anglo American

• Strategic advice to senior leaders on communications approach for change programmes, which included M&A, rebranding and restructuring. 
• Led the creation of messaging and editorial content for all Group-level change communications. 
• Developed and launched Anglo American’s social media channels. Designed and delivered associated change communications and trained communications network to help drive engagement and usage.
• Established effective cascade processes and created collateral to ensure consistent message delivery from top to bottom. 
• Managed all the main company-wide internal communication channels (print, digital and face-to-face) to ensure the effective delivery of the Group’s strategic communication objectives.
• Created and launched online communication channel for senior managers.
• Relaunched the global employee magazine on the back of audience feedback. It won four Institute of Internal Communication awards.
• Regularly measured the effectiveness of channels and identified and implemented improvements.  

Key achievements
As communications lead on largest-ever company-wide restructure, worked with senior leadership team including HR Director to advise, agree and deliver on strategic communications approach. Resulted in high levels of awareness and understanding of strategic rationale and impact of restructure and smooth transition to new business operating model.

Led change communications and employee engagement strategy for re-branding of Anglo American. Resulted in helping the company to differentiate itself in a homogenous sector, a compelling Employee Value Proposition (EVP), increased levels of employee engagement and improvements in talent attraction and retention. 

Led the creation, launch and development of Anglo American’s social media channels that resulted in increased employee engagement and dialogue with external parties. Social media is now a key part of the company’s corporate communications strategy.

Group Internal Communications Manager

Managed a variety of Group internal communication channels, including web (intranet), digital (e-newsletters and blogs) and print. 

Main responsibilities included:
Worked with the Group Internal Communications Manager to develop communication plans across a range of channels.
Managed content on the Group intranet, including setting up and maintaining the Group news section.
Created and managed the CEO's blog on the intranet.
Established, wrote and published the regular e-newsletter for all staff.

Internal Communications Officer

**Available Sept** Helping companies communicate with clarity and purpose to stand out from the crowd, cut through the noise, and get results - Award-winning Senior Communications Strategist, Copywriter, Speaker

📈 With extensive experience on both sides (in-house and independent), I am a Senior Communications Consultant, Copywriter, Coach, Mentor, and Speaker who helps companies with Communications strategy and delivery to stand out from the crowd, cut through the noise, and get commercial results. 

I have worked for all sizes of businesses across a range of industries, including Tech, Pharma, FMCG, Mining, FS, Legal, Engineering, and Consulting. What sets me apart is that I have been in my clients’ shoes, having worked both in-house and independently to deliver communications strategy, copy, and content that shines.

Areas of Expertise include: 

• Communications strategy, planning, consultancy (leadership level).
• Communications coaching and mentoring (senior level).
• Positioning, messaging, corporate narrative, storytelling. 
• EVP and employer branding – research, strategy, messaging, content.
• Employee Experience – research, strategy, messaging, content.
• Brand, purpose, culture and values-related messaging, stories, content. 
• B2B, B2C and internal copywriting and editing, including White Papers, E-Books, Thought Leadership, speeches, exec messages.
• Product Marketing inc. brochures, sales decks/battlecards, POVs, hooks, landing pages, sector-specific Business Development. 
• Content and editorial strategy and review. 
• Writing and editing websites, video scripts, animations, vlogs, blogs. 
• Social media content that reflects a brand/exec’s personality and tone. 
• Campaign communication materials. 

Key Skills:

• Quickly interpreting business strategy and creative briefs and bringing them to life through data-driven communications strategy, copy, and content.
• Excellent writing, storytelling, editing, and re-writing ability, including different styles, formats, and tones of voice. 
• Turning complex and/or dry subjects and material into simple, clear, compelling, and differentiated narrative, storytelling, and copy.  
• Senior leadership counsel and workshop facilitation as a trusted advisor.
• Ability to listen carefully, ask insightful questions, and take directions. 
• Delivering high-quality copy and content to brief and deadline.
• Research and analysis to understand the subject and audience/s.

******

🔔 Follow me for useful, thought-provoking content on Communications, EVP/Employer Brand, and Employee Experience, and ring the bell icon at the top of my profile so you don't miss any of my posts. 

📭 DM me if you're looking for support with your Communications Strategy, Delivery, Copywriting, or Coaching/Mentoring. Slots available now.

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