NEW YORK: Weber Shandwick has appointed Don Spetner as senior corporate adviser as it launches CCO 4.0, an analysis tool for chief communications officers.
Spetner is reporting to Micho Spring, chair of Weber's global corporate practice. He is serving as a strategic resource to clients' communications leaders and is also introducing the CCO 4.0 service.
“Weber has developed the only tool in the industry that can transform a communications department from a service provider to a true strategic business partner, catering to a huge need in the marketplace,” Spetner said.
He added that convergence between marketing and communications departments and their functions is creating tension among CCOs.
“It's like CCOs are hockey goalies, and shots are coming at them; they have no time to properly assess departmental function and benchmark it,” he explained. “That is what we are trying to do with the offering.”
CCO 4.0 provides departmental assessments and recommendations to maximize effectiveness; a metrics dashboard to measure and communicate results; an organizational scope and design benchmark; and a peer organization and leader-visibility scan. It also includes an executive equity and engagement plan to drive a CCO's strategic visibility and thought leadership.
Spetner retired from his role as EVP of corporate affairs at Korn/Ferry International in November 2012. He spent the last year running a consulting business for communications chiefs.
Previously, he was VP of corporate communications at SunAmerica and Nissan North America. Spetner also spent 10 years as a member of Korn/Ferry's corporate affairs executive search practice and held roles at GCI, Bozell, and Ruder Finn.
In September, Weber named Cathy Calhoun as global chief client officer and appointed Susan Howe as president of global consumer marketing. Last month, Weber named Jye Smith as Asia-Pacific head of Mediaco, the agency's content-creation and distribution unit, and appointed Josh Wright as adviser on its Australian public affairs team.
