Insights and Publications
The result is a series of revealing research reports that shed light on important issues and practices – and inform the advice that we provide on capability building, best practice and talent development. Not only does our research give clients inspiration and new ideas, it emboldens us to challenge their thinking. It also helps to cement our status as a trusted adviser rather than a mere service provider. Our publications and articles are frequently quoted in the media and give a taste of the depth of expertise we can offer you.
FTSE100 Group Corporate Communications/Affairs Director Survey 2019/20
Each year Watson Helsby publishes its annual FTSE100 Group Corporate Communications/Affairs Director survey. Now the industry benchmark it derives its detailed insight and authority from interviews with over 60% of this group of senior executives. Read more
Employees / Transforming spectators into fans
Internal Communications often lacks strategic clout and impact. This paper describes exactly how and why Internal Communications should reinvent itself. It involves a completely redefined purpose, a more ambitious strategic impact and a dramatic shift in emphasis. Read more
The Missing Link
“The Missing Link” (2018) turns the spotlight on the convergence of culture, purpose, brand and reputation and the critical importance, in today’s highly transparent world, of joining them up and leveraging them together to drive engagement, reputation and business outcomes. Download the Executive Summary below.
The full version of the report is available to purchase for the sum of £500. Please email info@watsonhelsby.co.uk
FTSE 100 Group Director of Corporate Communications / Affairs Survey 2016/17 Results
Each year, to enhance our executive search advisory offer, Watson Helsby publishes a FTSE 100 Group Director of Corporate Communications/Affairs Survey. This provides an intriguing picture of everything from reporting lines and Executive Committee membership to the – ever fascinating – subject of remuneration. The 2016/17 Survey has just been published. Read more
Why CEOs Must Know Their Audience
In this article, published by Critical Eye we explores the daunting process a first time CEO faces and how a communications director can ensure a leader gets off to a strong start. Read more
FTSE 100 Group Director of Corporate Communications / Affairs Survey 2015/16 Results
Each year Watson Helsby publishes a FTSE100 Group Corporate Communications/Affairs Director survey, providing information and insight on reporting lines, executive committee membership, remuneration and other data of broader interest. This year we analysed the background/profile of all the FTSE 100 Corporate Communications/Affairs Directors. Read more
Getting your voice heard in Brussels
Is there any such thing as best practice in the context of organising and managing public affairs and government relations capability in Brussels and the EU? How much does a senior Brussels/EU public affairs leader get paid? These and other questions are answered in this survey, conducted amongst over 30 EU and Brussels public affairs heads in 2015. Read more
FTSE 100 Group Director of Public Affairs Survey 2014/2015 Results
With government relations and broader external affairs search assignments and market intelligence projects accounting for an ever increasing share of our work, we are making our Watson Helsby FTSE 100 Group Director of Public Affairs Survey an annual event and the 2015 Survey is now available. This year we have surveyed over 90% of the FTSE 100, thereby making it the most comprehensive analysis available. Read more
Staying on the Front Foot
The understanding and definition of the contribution of the corporate affairs function to business success is far from universal. This report is designed to provide a comprehensive analysis of the “unique contribution of the corporate affairs leader to the leadership of an organisation”. Read more
Risk, Reputation & Corporate Affairs
Organisations need to work hard at winning hearts and minds. Nick Helsby, Managing Director of executive search firm Watson Helsby, tells Criticaleye why the Corporate Affairs Director must play a proactive role in building trust
with stakeholders while ensuring reputational risks are covered. Read more
FTSE 100 Group Director of Public Affairs Survey 2013/2014 Findings
Watson Helsby, the specialist corporate communications and public affairs executive search firm, surveyed the public affairs functions of the FTSE100 in the second half of 2013, to determine: a) the proportion of member companies that have a dedicated Group Head of Public Affairs, b) the reporting lines of those that do; c) how the function is structured; and d) salary and career profile. Read more
Refining reputation - the changing role of corporate affairs in the Energy sector (2013)
Latest research from Watson Helsby highlights the reputation risks faced by senior executives within the energy sector, and identifies areas where companies need to strengthen their corporate affairs function to manage these more effectively. Read more
FTSE 100 Group Director of Corporate Affairs / Communications Survey 2013 Results
Watson Helsby’s latest annual FTSE 100 Group Director of Communications & Corporate Affairs survey providing information on reporting lines, Executive Committee (ExCo) membership and remuneration. Read more
Plans, Priorities and Issues on 2010 (2010)
What is in store for Communications Directors in 2010? The findings were not particularly optimistic, with many expecting a similarly challenging year to 2009, with budgets remaining pegged at 2009 levels. The overriding priority in 2010 will be about regaining trust and confidence amongst internal and external audiences. Read more
Corporate Affairs – fit for purpose in a downturn? (2009)
We look at the impact of the downturn through the lens of the corporate affairs function (and on it) and the reputation management issues and challenges that have emerged. The report poses the million dollar question, is the function fit for purpose (skills, knowledge and data, structure) in these new challenging circumstances and can it add the value expected of it. Our view, which is expanded upon in the report, is that there are certain capability gaps that need to be addressed to deepen and extend the effectiveness of the function. Read more
Managing the Unmanageable (2005)
A study, conducted amongst group heads of media relations in FTSE100s, which examines the changing media landscape, the challenges of dealing with the media in today’s big companies and the skills and qualities required of today’s leading media relations practitioners. Read more
The Rise of the Internal Communicator (2002)
Looking at the emerging role of the internal communications function and the challenges it faces in establishing credibility and proving its value. It also contains salary data and outlines the possible directions the function could take.. Read more
FTSE 100 Group Director of Corporate Communications Affairs Survey 2018
Each year, to enhance our executive search advisory offer, Watson Helsby publishes a FTSE 100 Group Director of Corporate Communications/Affairs Survey. This provides an intriguing picture of everything from reporting lines and Executive Committee membership to the – ever fascinating – subject of remuneration. The 2018 Survey has just been published. Read more
The Role of Internal Comms in Large-Scale Change
Criticaleye, the peer-to-peer Board community for CEOs and senior executives, has recently published an interview with Pierre Goad, Group Head of Communications at HSBC about the role of internal communications in large-scale change, which included a ‘contribution’ from Watson Helsby about “winning hearts and minds” on page 3. Read more
FTSE 100 Group Director of Corporate Affairs and Communications Survey 2014 results
Watson Helsby’s latest annual FTSE 100 Group Director of Corporate Affairs & Communications survey providing information on reporting lines, Executive Committee (ExCo) membership and remuneration. Read more
Under the spotlight. Corporate affairs & PR in the media & entertainment industry
The past decade has seen a seismic change in the media & entertainment industry – no organisation has remained untouched by the rapid developments in technology. The sector faces unprecedented change along with a diverse range of reputational issues. We’ve spoken to many of the industry’s communications leaders to find out how the function is managing against this challenging backdrop. The research explores the industry’s complex reputational challenges, identifies five key areas for building capacity, outlines how the organisation of communications teams is slowly evolving, gives an insight into how PR agency usage is changing and reveals data on industry salaries and budgets. Read more
FTSE 100 Group Director of Corporate Affairs / Communications Survey 2013 Results
Watson Helsby’s latest annual FTSE 100 Group Director of Communications & Corporate Affairs survey providing information on reporting lines, Executive Committee (ExCo) membership and remuneration. Read more
The Changing Face of Public Affairs (2012)
Over the past five years the political and regulatory context within which companies operate has changed substantially.
A Global Survey by McKinsey (“How business interacts with government”, McKinsey & Company, 2010) concluded that “Government is likelier to affect companies’ economic outcome than any other set of stakeholders except customers.” The results also showed that most executives expect Government involvement in their industries to continue increasing.
As an executive search firm that helps companies strengthen their senior level public affairs and government relations capability, we undertook a research study to explore the implications of this assertion on the role, value and status of the public affairs function. Interviewees included public affairs and public policy heads in both multi-nationals and smaller UK-focused plcs, a number of government ministers and special advisors as well as owners of public affairs consultancies.
The overriding aim of this research study was:
To provide an in-depth analysis of the developments impacting the role and contribution of the public affairs function together with the environment within which it operates.
To provide an informed view of how and where the function needs to evolve or enhance the value it brings to an organisation (what are the attributes of a world-class public or government affairs function?).
Internal Communications: More to Deliver (2009)
An analysis of the big topics shaping internal communications and its development as a management discipline. The report examines why the function still suffers from perception issues and why it continues to under-deliver in many organisations. One of the key issues is the shortage of really experienced candidates to cement its status as a heavyweight, accountable function with a discrete skillset and body of knowledge that delivers real business benefits. The report shows how the role could be ‘beefed-up’ and made more substantial and also shows how organisations could improve their ROI in internal communications. Read more
PR Director or Chief Reputation Officer? (2003)
The corporate affairs function is responsible for helping companies navigate their way through an increasingly complex network of stakeholder relationships. Various trends have made this role considerably more complex and this report examines how the corporate affairs function has changed in response to these challenges. Read more
Managing Communications and Reputation across Europe (2007)
A report explaining the issues and challenges, as well as the evolving remit, of the EMEA communications director, a role found predominantly in US companies with a strong presence in Europe. We interviewed VPs of Communications from a number of companies including Microsoft, Disney, Motorola, Coca-Cola and McDonald’s. Read more