WASHINGTON, DC: Incoming International Association of Business Communicators chairman John Clemons is set to join Nextel as the new VP of internal communications.
WASHINGTON, DC: Incoming International Association of Business Communicators chairman John Clemons is set to join Nextel as the new VP of internal communications.
Clemons had spent the last two years as director of corporate internal communications at Ameritech, and he was specifically brought on board to handle internal communications for the October 1999 merger with SBC Communications. He is one of the few survivors of the consequent downsizing.
Now, Clemons joins fast-growing Nextel, which specializes in b-to-b wireless phone systems and has grown from 2,200 employees in 1996 to 13,500 by the first quarter of this year. The company's territory includes South America and the Pacific Rim.
Despite the rapid growth, however, internal communications continued to be handled by corporate communications. 'Internal communications is a challenge in any company, but it's especially so when you've grown as fast as we have,' said Ben Banta, VP for corporate communications at Nextel.
He explained that part of Clemons' responsibilities will include overseeing a daily electronic news system.
Clemons has previously handled internal communications for Marriott and several telecoms companies. He is scheduled to become IABC's chairman in June 2001. He is currently vice chairman.
