The role and influence of corporate affairs in the UK's largest listed companies has continued to grow over recent years as CEOs and boards alike recognise the critical importance of a well run function and the value it can bring to the business. The accelerating change sweeping through businesses is reflected in the broadening exposure, scope and responsibilities of the corporate affairs function as well as in the financial rewards available to high performers.
A company’s reputation depends on issues that go well beyond the actions of its CEO or whether it has delivered shareholder value. A crisis in a local market can quickly escalate and have implications for the company’s reputation on a global scale. So the communications director role is diverse, strategic, and highly commercial.
Today’s corporate affairs director should be able to demonstrate a combination of intellectual, commercial, influencing and communications skills to be fully effective at the top table. What's more, the emergence of former government advisers in FTSE 100 companies shows how critical a deep understanding of the interface between government, business and society is becoming.
This report is the result of detailed research into the corporate affairs function in FTSE 100 companies, including detailed interviews with 33 department heads, the majority of whom operate in the FTSE 50.