• Back to articles

4 issues that every head of corporate affairs should know how to correct

Increasingly, head of corporate affairs executives are a crucial part of the leadership team, as organisations are recognising the importance of the role in strategic decision-making processes and wider company policy.   With an expanding remit and more responsibility, the role of corporate affairs is no longer simply managing wider communications that come from within…

favicon

Dec 19, 2019

Increasingly, head of corporate affairs executives are a crucial part of the leadership team, as organisations are recognising the importance of the role in strategic decision-making processes and wider company policy.

 
With an expanding remit and more responsibility, the role of corporate affairs is no longer simply managing wider communications that come from within the organisation. They must manage cross-functional teams that incorporate media relations, brand marketing, employee engagement and so much more.
 
What issues do heads of corporate affairs face across their new range of responsibilities?
 

1) Multiple channels of communication

Technology and the platforms we use are constantly changing. No corporate affairs director can expect to grasp how to manage brand reputation today and expect that their methods and tools will still be applicable in ten years time. Corporate affairs directors need to organise their teams to be across all kinds of media, from traditional print to social media.
 
They need to be adapting ahead of everybody else, working out what issues could face their organisation as new technologies change the way their brand is publicly represented.
 
Today's corporate affairs executives face challenges in managing messages that don't come from within the company.
 

2) Lack of technical skills

Technical skills haven’t necessarily been a key requirement for the role in the past. However, with the speed at which the online world has developed, without technical skills in their team, corporate affairs heads face issues in keeping track of just what messages are out there about their brand. A data analyst is crucial in monitoring what’s happening outside the control of the organisation’s brand management to mitigate the real PR risks. Across the team, it’s important that everyone understands the basics of analytics and how to use online marketing tools to get a message in front of key online audiences.
 

3) Messages from outside the organisation

With the rise of the internet, information – positive or negative – can make it around the globe in minutes. It’s easy to share, and it’s not always clear where the message has come from, whether it’s true or false.
 
While there’s always been an element of crises management in corporate affairs, executives are now having to adapt to managing more messages that are out of their control than ever before. Brand information is no longer distributed top-down, from the organisation to the media and then to the masses, as it was before the internet made sharing so easy. 
 

4) Stakeholder and employee dissatisfaction

The saying ‘keep your friends close but your enemies closer’ is particularly relevant for corporate affairs managers. Employees and key stakeholders are your best brand ambassadors when they have something positive to day, and your worst enemy when they’re unhappy. 
 
When something goes wrong in this department corporate affairs teams have to know what pain points to address and how, according to the values of their internal stakeholders.

Find out more about Executive Search & Selection

favicon

Dec 19, 2019

Discover insights.

12.13.2023
Visuals hit the mark in a fast-paced world

Creating messages that cut through social media, news cycles and even the humble inbox has never been easy, but, with more noise across more channels, it’s become more important than ever to create messages that stand out and land with impact. Visual communications tools are gaining traction as a way of shaping messages that hit…

05.10.2023
Rapport yields exceptional results for contractors

Looking for greater choice in the contract options available to you? Having history and rapport with a specialist recruiter like Fraser Clapcott will open doors to opportunities you may have missed for yourself, that add value for both contractor and employer. In the current climate of uncertainty, a willingness and propensity for flexibility comes with…

05.04.2023
Curious about the current state of play for communicators?

If you’ve been ruminating on changing-up your comms career, now may be the ideal time to talk with your trusted recruiter about making a move. Salt & Shein Director, Lucy Newcomb, sees significant scope for motivated communicators to broaden their career horizons, and make the job of their dreams a reality, in 2023. “A rapidly…

Discover insights.

12.13.2023

Visuals hit the mark in a fast-paced world

Creating messages that cut through social media, news cycles and even the humble inbox has never been easy, but, with more noise across more channels, it’s become more important than ever to create messages that stand out and land with impact. Visual communications tools are gaining traction as a way of shaping messages that hit…

05.10.2023

Rapport yields exceptional results for contractors

Looking for greater choice in the contract options available to you? Having history and rapport with a specialist recruiter like Fraser Clapcott will open doors to opportunities you may have missed for yourself, that add value for both contractor and employer. In the current climate of uncertainty, a willingness and propensity for flexibility comes with…

05.04.2023

Curious about the current state of play for communicators?

If you’ve been ruminating on changing-up your comms career, now may be the ideal time to talk with your trusted recruiter about making a move. Salt & Shein Director, Lucy Newcomb, sees significant scope for motivated communicators to broaden their career horizons, and make the job of their dreams a reality, in 2023. “A rapidly…

Salt & Shein
10.21.2022

How to Drive Value Using Digital Marketing

Digital marketing drives value – for those who keep pace Faster communication, lower costs, higher conversion – is there anything digital marketing can’t do? Its ability to drive value from every step of the marketing process is unprecedented, but maximising this value is a demanding exercise. We asked two specialists in this area to tell…

06.14.2022

Economic Challenges Threaten to Cloud the Focus on ESG

ESG is just one challenge on Government’s long list The government’s election promises around environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues were instrumental in its victory a few weeks ago, reflecting a mandate to treat climate change, gender equity and other ESG matters as essential. “Australian businesses know that action on climate change is good for…

05.31.2022

Addressing the skills shortage

Unlocking opportunities for families across Australia As a boutique executive search firm, we’ve seen up close the impact of Australia’s labour shortage as the pool of candidates continues to shrink, limiting the growth of careers and businesses – and hampering national productivity. With some 425,000 job vacancies across Australia, no wonder the OECD recommended that…

04.04.2022

Leadership: Why showing employee appreciation and care can go a long way

Everyone has to start from somewhere. Meaning you’ve probably held an entry-level position at one point or another, in which trying to impress the higher-ups in your company was a major part of your job.   This article will explore why employee appreciation and recognition are a vital part of holding a leadership role not…

03.18.2022

The future of recruiting includes ESG initiatives

Whether or not a company acknowledges how much their social, environmental and governance (ESG) decisions impact the world around them, candidates are taking notice. Most job seekers will pass over a company that is not taking steps to improve how they show up outside of their business metrics for an organisation that does.    This…

01.31.2022

Changes to the work environment in the new norm

People all over the world and especially in Australia have faced incredible challenges in the past two years. Those businesses that survived multiple shutdowns and policy changes are finding new ways to adjust as they enter the post-COVID work environment. As offices begin to reopen, enterprise leaders are not only deciding among the options of…

12.16.2021

Solving the skills shortage: Closed borders and adjusting expectations

With the revolving door of new COVID-19 regulations, variants, opened (then closed again) borders and an exodus of non-Australian workers, the workforce across the nation is facing a severe skills shortage.  Despite these challenges, there are solutions. The secret to overcoming this qualifications shortage lies in taking a proactive approach to hiring through policy changes…