Korn Ferry: CEOs Expand C-Suite Mandate for Best-in-Class Corporate Affairs

The role of chief affairs officer does not fit into one definition. Titles and roles vary from corporate communications, government relations, public affairs, public policy, stakeholder engagement, corporate social responsibility, employee communications, consumer relations, community relations, investor relations, and marketing. Korn Ferry finds that aside from the sweeping scope of responsibilities, what defines the chief affairs executive is their role as trusted advisor to the CEO.

Chief affairs officers come from an array of backgrounds. Many have a blend of political, government agency, nongovernmental agency, and corporate experience. These backgrounds have led them to have a high level of business acumen, financial literacy, global perspective, and are savvy around government policy and regulation.

As trusted advisor, the chief affairs officer provides input and feedback on strategy, communication and reputation. Their role gives them increasing influence inside the C-suite and other members of the executive team. With a seat at the leadership table and the ear of the CEO, best-in class corporate affairs officers occupy the unique role of both advisor and strategist, helping to drive decision-making within the C-suite to position the organization in the best way to all its audiences.

The full report is published on Korn Ferry’s website. Read the full report.