Chief communications officer (CCO) job description.
Thinking of bringing in a Chief Communications Officer (CCO) or stepping into the role yourself? This CCO job description explains the executive-level scope, core leadership duties, essential experience, common progression paths, and what to expect in terms of salary.
What does a chief communications officer do?
The Chief Communications Officer (CCO) is responsible for overseeing all aspects of communication within a business — from brand narrative and media relations to internal comms and reputation management. As a board-level role, the CCO plays a strategic part in shaping how the company is perceived both internally and externally.
They manage large, often global communications teams and work closely with the CEO, HR, Legal, Marketing, and Investor Relations. Responsibilities include crisis communication, ESG messaging, executive visibility, and regulatory disclosures.
In larger or publicly listed organisations, the CCO ensures alignment between company actions and public messaging. In high-growth or fast-changing environments, they bring structure, risk awareness, and consistency to all corporate communications.
Key responsibilities of a chief communications officer.
In most businesses, the CCO leads company-wide communications with responsibilities such as:
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Setting the global communications strategy aligned with business goals
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Overseeing internal, external, investor, and crisis communications
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Acting as the lead advisor to the CEO and board on public messaging
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Managing global communication teams, including PR and internal comms
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Aligning comms efforts across HR, marketing, finance, and legal
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Developing response plans for issues, crises, and reputational risk
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Leading media strategy, thought leadership, and executive visibility
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Ensuring consistency across global regions and business units
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Managing regulatory disclosures, ESG messaging, and brand storytelling
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Representing communications at board or leadership level
The role blends executive-level strategy with high-stakes message management and global oversight.
Skills and requirements for a chief communications officer.
CCOs lead global communications strategy, internal alignment, and executive visibility. The role combines commercial awareness with communications leadership. Employers typically look for:
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12–15 years of senior comms experience in high-growth or enterprise settings
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Board-level leadership and experience reporting into the CEO
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Proven track record building and protecting brand reputation
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Experience managing global or multi-regional communications strategies
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Expertise in internal comms, investor relations, PR, and executive comms
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Ability to align comms with corporate strategy, culture, and change
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Experience building and scaling comms teams or functions
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Skilled in crisis management and reactive communications
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High-level writing, messaging, and media training skills
Most CCOs have extensive in-house leadership experience or an agency background combined with board exposure. Qualifications are helpful, but results, influence, and judgment matter more.
Average salary for a chief communications officer.
In the UK, the average salary for a chief communications officer (CCO) typically ranges from £100,000 to £150,000, reflecting seniority and influence at board level.
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Mid-level CCOs tend to earn between £100,000 and £125,000
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More experienced CCOs, especially those in listed companies or complex matrix environments, can earn between £126,000 and £150,000
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Firms undergoing digital transformation, rebranding, or international expansion often offer higher base pay and long-term incentives
Salaries are typically highest in London, particularly in FTSE organisations, financial services, and tech unicorns.
Career progression for chief communications officer.
A CCO is a senior executive role focused on brand reputation, corporate narrative, and global communications strategy. Career progression into this role typically comes via a mix of leadership and strategic comms experience. Common steps include:
Communications executive
Supports PR and media activities, monitors sentiment, and delivers messaging across key platforms.
Communications manager
Owns internal or external comms strategy, manages budgets and content calendars, and works with leadership teams.
Communications director
Leads multi-discipline teams and sets narrative strategy across PR, internal comms, and executive visibility.
Head of communications
Drives business reputation, executive positioning, and issues management at a senior level.
Chief communications officer (CCO)
Shapes external and internal narrative globally. Advises C-suite, leads crisis response, and builds long-term brand trust.
Some CCOs move into broader leadership, such as Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) or Chief Brand Officer.
salary guide
Our UK marketing salary guide.
Hiring at C-suite level means getting salary and benefits right from the start. If you’re recruiting a Chief Communications Officer, market insights are key to making a compelling and credible offer.
Our 2025 UK Marketing Salary Guide covers the latest benchmarks for CCO roles. Use it to guide executive hiring conversations and align compensation with expectations.
FAQS
Chief communications officer FAQs.
While both roles are senior, the CCO operates at board level and often oversees a larger global remit. A Communications Director may manage strategy and execution, but the CCO is responsible for aligning communications with corporate governance, investor relations, and executive reputation — often reporting directly to the CEO.
Chief Communications Officers are most common in FTSE businesses, multinational corporations, government bodies, and large non-profits. Sectors like finance, pharmaceuticals, tech, and energy increasingly rely on a CCO to navigate complex stakeholder ecosystems and public scrutiny.
Yes — many CCOs have risen through agency roles where they led major accounts or advised C-suite clients. However, to transition successfully, they typically need in-house experience managing internal comms, investor relations, and cross-functional leadership.
A successful CCO maintains clarity, consistency, and confidence under pressure. Their ability to anticipate reputational risks, guide executive messaging, and coordinate global responses is critical. They also serve as the voice of reason and integrity during transformation or external scrutiny.
Absolutely. In many organisations, the CCO plays a lead role in crafting ESG narratives, aligning sustainability messaging with brand purpose, and communicating progress to investors and media. This includes climate goals, social impact, and corporate governance disclosures.
Not necessarily. A CCO is most valuable when the business has high external visibility, faces complex regulatory pressures, or requires consistent messaging across multiple global markets. For startups or smaller firms, a senior comms director may suffice until further scale is reached.
Formal qualifications in journalism, communications, or marketing can help, but board-level experience, commercial understanding, and a proven track record of protecting and enhancing brand reputation matter more. Many UK-based CCOs have previously worked in enterprise organisations or managed international comms portfolios.
