Spencer Stuart Appoints First Chief Communications Officer

Global advisory firm Spencer Stuart has announced that it is appointing Bill Launder as Chief Communications Officer.

This newly created role, the firm says, is designed to reflect its “continued investment in market leadership.”

Bill will lead the company’s global communications strategy, with a focus on elevating the voice of Spencer Stuart, strengthening its brand and reputation and deepening engagement with clients and stakeholders worldwide. 

“We are delighted to welcome Bill to Spencer Stuart in this important role at a pivotal time for our firm,” says Jordan Brugg, Chief Executive Officer of Spencer Stuart. “We operate at the intersection of talent and strategy, and how we communicate our insights and impact is increasingly important. 

“Bill's combination of in-house corporate communications experience, advisory perspective and newsroom instinct will be instrumental in strengthening how we tell our story, reinforcing our role as a trusted advisor to senior leaders and their organisations around the world."

Who is Bill Launder?

Bill is joining Spencer Stuart from Prudential Financial, where he served as the company’s Head of Corporate Communications – leading media relations, corporate reputation, executive messaging, crisis preparedness and financial communications.

Prior to that, he held the role of Vice President of Corporate Communications at Discovery, Inc., with responsibilities spanning media relations, executive positioning and financial communications. 

He started his career as a journalist, first based in the Paris bureau at the New York Times, before joining American Banker to cover financial services.

Bill then joined the Wall Street Journal as a foreign correspondent in Germany, before returning to New York to cover the US media industry. 

“Spencer Stuart is a true leader in the global advisory industry, with unmatched talent, insights and relationships with the world's most important leaders and organisations,” he says. “I'm thrilled to join the Spencer Stuart team at this important moment and look forward to helping shape the firm's evolving story on behalf of our clients and colleagues around the world.”

Are Chief Communications Officer appointments increasing?

This appointment follows a growing trend of Chief Communications Officer appointments – with the public relations function evolving from a support function to a more strategic, senior role in organisations.

The number of Chief Communications Officers reporting directly to the CEO have increased to 47% from 40% in 2023, while the median base salary of the role has increased from US$350,000 to US$400,000 to US$400,000 to US$450,000 across the same timeframe, according to Korn Ferry. 

Research from the Conference Board also finds that Chief Communications Officers and Chief Marketing Officers report feeling more positive about their budgets as the business impact of these roles grows. 

However, this increase in budget also comes with an increase in workload, as job satisfaction for Chief Communications Officers and Chief Marketing Officers drops 9% since June 2025. 

Denise Dahlhoff, Head of Research, Marketing & Communications Centre at The Conference Board, says of the findings: “Alongside the sharp improvement in budgets, the latest CMO+CCO Meter found that workload is a growing challenge for marketing and communications. 

“Compared to last June, satisfaction regarding workload fell 6 points among CMOs to 51% and a whopping 20 points among CCOs to just 34% – with AI, expectations and market conditions all playing a role.”