The posting
WME is seeking a Vice President, Corporate Communications to lead strategic communications initiatives across a portfolio of key agency businesses and enterprise functions. This role will be responsible for media relations, executive communications, internal communications, crisis communications, financial communications, and corporate reputation management, serving as a trusted advisor to business leaders and executives across the organization.
Based in New York, this role will report directly to the EVP, Communications and serve as the lead communications partner for several of WME's most strategic growth businesses and corporate priorities. The VP will work closely with senior leadership to develop and execute communications strategies that support business objectives, elevate executive visibility, strengthen employee engagement, manage reputational risk, and advance WME's overall corporate narrative.
The ideal candidate is a strategic, thoughtful, and highly collaborative communications leader with strong business acumen, excellent judgment, and a proven ability to operate in a fast-paced, high-profile environment. This individual should be equally comfortable advising executives, leading crisis communications efforts, shaping proactive media strategies, managing internal communications initiatives, and developing high-performing teams.
This role is based in New York and reports directly to the EVP, Communications, based in Beverly Hills.
Key Areas of Ownership
The Vice President will serve as the lead communications partner for:
- Brand Strategy
- Non-Scripted & Creators
- Sports
- Harry Walker Agency (HWA)
- IMG Licensing
- Internal Communications
- Financial Communications
- London & International Communications
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Communications Leadership
- Develop and execute integrated communications strategies that align with business objectives, support organizational priorities, and strengthen WME's reputation.
- Serve as a trusted communications advisor to senior leaders across assigned businesses and corporate functions.
- Partner with leadership teams to identify and capitalize on strategic storytelling opportunities that advance business goals and elevate WME's corporate profile.
- Help shape and communicate the narrative for key businesses, executives, agents, and initiatives across the enterprise.
Media Relations & Corporate Storytelling
- Build and execute proactive media relations strategies that generate impactful coverage across entertainment, business, sports, technology, consumer, and trade media.
- Frame compelling narratives for WME's businesses, executives, agents, and clients through high-quality placements and thought leadership opportunities.
- Oversee development of press releases, media materials, executive profiles, announcements, and strategic communications campaigns.
- Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with journalists, editors, conference organizers, and industry influencers.
- Identify opportunities that increase visibility for WME's executives, businesses, and strategic initiatives.
Executive Communications
- Provide strategic communications counsel and day-to-day support to senior executives.
- Develop speeches, presentations, talking points, leadership messages, briefing materials, and executive communications plans.
- Partner with business leaders to enhance executive visibility through media opportunities, speaking engagements, conferences, and thought leadership platforms.
- Support executive preparation for interviews, speaking engagements, leadership meetings, and key stakeholder interactions.
- Serve as on-the-ground communications support for executives across East Coast operations and leadership activities.
Internal Communications & Employee Engagement
- Lead internal communications efforts across WME Group in partnership with Human Resources and executive leadership.
- Support company-wide communications initiatives, including all-agent meetings, leadership forums, organizational announcements, offsites, and employee engagement programs.
- Develop communication strategies that foster transparency, alignment, and connection across the organization.
- Drive communications plans related to organizational change, leadership transitions, workforce initiatives, and enterprise priorities.
- Partner closely with business leaders and corporate stakeholders to ensure timely and effective employee communications.
Financial Communications
- Partner with executive leadership and Finance teams to support communications related to key business updates and stakeholder engagement.
- Develop communications materials, messaging frameworks, talking points, and briefing documents for financial and business-related communications.
- Support lender communications, financial updates, leadership materials, and other business-critical communications initiatives.
- Advise stakeholders on communications considerations related to financial and corporate matters.
London & International Communications
- Serve as the primary communications partner for London-based stakeholders and international communications initiatives.
- Ensure alignment between U.S. and international communications strategies, messaging, and priorities.
- Partner with business leaders and communications teams across regions to support global initiatives, announcements, and communications programs.
- Help drive consistency in messaging and communications execution across geographies.
Crisis Communications & Reputation Management
- Lead communications planning and response efforts related to sensitive, high-profile, and reputation-impacting issues.
- Provide strategic counsel and communications support during crises, organizational challenges, and significant business developments.
- Develop issues-management plans, stakeholder communications strategies, and response frameworks.
- Partner closely with Legal, HR, Finance, and business leadership on matters requiring thoughtful communications guidance and discretion.
- Help identify emerging reputational risks and proactively develop mitigation strategies.
Team Leadership & Communications Operations
- Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing communications team.
- Manage and support:Director, Corporate Communications (New York) Manager, Corporate Communications (London) Manager, Corporate Communications (New York) - TBD
- Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, creativity, and excellence.
- Oversee communications planning, prioritization, workflow management, and execution across multiple stakeholders and initiatives.
- Establish scalable processes and best practices that improve effectiveness, efficiency, and alignment across the communications function.
Qualifications
- 10-15+ years of experience in corporate communications, public relations, executive communications, media relations, or related communications functions.
- Significant experience advising senior executives and business leaders on strategic communications matters.
- Proven success leading integrated communications programs across multiple stakeholder groups and business units.
- Demonstrated experience managing crisis communications, reputation management, and sensitive communications issues.
- Strong media relations experience with a successful track record securing impactful coverage across business, entertainment, sports, consumer, and trade media.
- Exceptional writing, storytelling, presentation, and executive communications skills.
- Experience managing and developing communications professionals and high-performing teams.
- Strong business acumen, executive presence, and stakeholder management skills.
- Ability to navigate complex, fast-paced environments while balancing strategic thinking with hands-on execution.
- Entertainment, media, sports, creator economy, consumer brands, licensing, or related industry experience strongly preferred.
- Established relationships across key media sectors, including trade, business, entertainment, sports, and consumer outlets preferred.
Per local requirements and in the interest of transparency, the rate shown below reflects the prevalent current hiring range for this position. Hiring pay rates are based on a number of factors, including location and may vary depending on job-related qualifications, knowledge, skills and experience. The company strives to provide locally competitive rewards packages, which include base rate along with, as applicable, short- and long-term incentives, growth and developmental opportunities, and robust benefits, such as health care, retirement, vacation and other paid time off, and additional offerings.
Hiring Rate Minimum:
$142,500 annually (minimum will not fall below the applicable state/local minimum salary thresholds)
Hiring Rate Maximum:
$190,000 annually
WME is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, or religion or belief.
