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

Comms leaders are now the shock absorbers of the enterprise. 

I joined hundreds of Mixing Board, powered by Axios members who participated in the new Communicators Report by Axios and Gravity Research. The findings are telling. 

Communicators are now managing the collision of five defining forces:
 → Misinformation and disinformation (71%, cited as the top reputational risk)
 → Hyper-charged geopolitical and regulatory scrutiny
 → Rapid AI disruption
 → A splintered media landscape
 → Workforce anxiety

The role is shifting from chief storyteller to chief stability officer — keeping organizations aligned, focused and credible as external pressure intensifies.

At the same time, employee communications is becoming the backbone of trust, not a secondary channel. 

AI is no longer experimental in comms — it’s operational. And how transparently and responsibly it’s used now directly impacts credibility, inside and out.

Not surprisingly, Fortune 100 CEOs are also taking a more pragmatic stance on societal and political issues.

Thanks Eleanor Hawkins for compiling and sharing your thoughts via Mixing Board.

#CommunicationsLeadership #AIinComms #Reputation #CorporateCommunications

C-Suite Communications | Anne W Associates

Pursued entrepreneurial ventures to experiment, apply skills in new ways, and embrace new challenges. Launched adjunct faculty career as a scholar-practitioner, teaching professional writing and strategic communications. Writer and editor.

Principal

Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Hired to permanent leadership role following successful consulting engagement. Reengineered communications and culture within Rare Disease IT function to be purposeful, intentional, and inclusive.

Associate Director, IT Strategy and Change Management Lead

Collaborated directly with Alexion's CIO and CTO to transform IT's positioning from traditional support function to strategic business partner through targeted messaging aligned with company mission and goals.

IT Strategic Communications & Change Management Consultant - Contract

Columbia University in the City of New York

Taught the Compelling Communicator course for the M.S. Strategic Communication Executive Program, part of the School of Professional Studies. Staff Associate (Summer 2018).

Lecturer, M.S. Strategic Communication Executive Program

Western Connecticut State University

Developed and taught Managerial Writing to undergraduate students, and to returning veterans as part of the Workforce Opportunity Services partnership program. Served two consecutive full-time special appointments as faculty and student advisor. Served as a writing mentor and thesis advisor for the M.F.A. program. Delivered residency workshops on business writing, networking, public relations.

Assistant Professor & Adjunct Faculty,  Writing, Linguistics and Creative Process

Aetna, Inc.

Aligned internal communication processes across multiple business lines, ensuring consistent leadership messaging and coordinated execution through the enterprise.

Director, Internal Business Communications

Led HR communications workstream for major Aetna acquisition, achieving fully integrated benefits, HR policies, processes, and platforms within seven months. Served as strategic communications and change advisor to CHRO and HR leadership for M&A, talent management, compensation, benefits, culture, and diversity initiatives.

Director, HR Communications

The Hartford

Promoted based on exceptional performance and strategic impact. Spearheaded change management communications for new operating model implementation, creating clear narrative that effectively explained vision, goals, and transformation benefits.

Assistant Vice President, P&C Executive & Employee Communications

Hired into newly created leadership role to reposition strategic communications and advise COO and Executive Team on communications strategy and messaging in transformational business environment.

Director, P&C Executive & Employee Communications

GE Capital

Promoted within the General Electric Company into newly created leadership role for Vendor Financial Services to reposition equipment leasing business as a supply chain finance leader following three acquisitions.

VP Communications

GE Industrial Systems 

Selected as global communications leader for newly created $6B business with 40,000 employees, a result of the merger of two GE manufacturing businesses. Managed all CEO and Executive Communications.

Manager, Communications & Public Affairs

Hired as global communications leader for $2.5B manufacturing business with 18,000 employees; managed all CEO and executive communications.

I believe that words and language are fundamental to the relationships we build with people. They’re the thread that weaves together cultures or causes them to fall apart. Words matter. Communicating well is essential, especially when it comes to cultural health.

My 30-Second Snapshot:

Experienced communications leader across multiple disciplines and industries.

Understands the business of operating a communications function.

Knows how to develop communication talent for today’s workplace.

Exemplary track record for developing higher education courses that deliver outcomes that provide valuable learning and application in the “real world.”

To quote musician Paul Simon, “Still crazy after all these years” about leading strategic communications and change, especially when strengthening a culture, making a difference, and having an impact.  

Pioneer in shepherding emerging technology as a conduit for effective communications while steadfastly committed to promoting the fundamentals of strategic communication practice. 

Visual storyteller. Writes words. Photographs life. 

Museum nerd.

For the birds…literally.

I'm currently exploring my "next." Want to connect? Message me on LinkedIn.

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Ben Trounson

Anne Witkavitch M.F.A. (she/her/hers)

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The Battle

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Anne Witkavitch M.F.A. (she/her/hers)

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Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Ben Trounson's LinkedIn Performance

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