MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA: Symantec CCO Harry Pforzheimer has departed the company after less than a year as its communications chief.
Pforzheimer joined Symantec last August, overseeing internal and external communications, trade analyst relations, CSR, and event communications. He reported to Symantec CEO Steve Bennett, the former CEO of Intuit.
Pforzheimer confirmed his departure with PRWeek, saying it was part of a “planned transition.”
Symantec promoted senior director Lorraine Hamby to VP of global PR and senior director Yvonne Thomson to VP of internal communications while it searches for a replacement for Pforzheimer, a company spokesperson confirmed.
Prior to Symantec, Pforzheimer was CCO and global marketing leader at Intuit, where he worked with Bennett. He left the role in late 2011 after seven years at the software company.
Pforzheimer was previously EVP at Ruder Finn/Switzer, president of Edelman's Western region, and EVP at the Weber Group. He also served as worldwide director of corporate and marketing communications at computer products company Silicon Graphics and director of corporate communications at data storage technology company StorageTek.
Last year, Symantec selected Edelman as global AOR for its consumer business unit. The assignment expanded on work done by Edelman since 2008 for Symantec's Norton computer anti-virus software in multiple markets. Weber Shandwick serves as the company's corporate AOR.
In December, Symantec appointed Stephen Gillett as EVP and COO, overseeing marketing, communications, and the IT function and reporting to Bennett. Gillett was formerly EVP and president for digital, global marketing, and strategy at Best Buy.
