We are living in the golden age of business communications. The figure of director of communications has managed to shake off its once subordinate role to stand, in many cases, shoulder-to-shoulder with the president and chief executive officer in large corporations.
A number of factors are responsible for this development. The growth of this field at the heart of organisations, along with the arrival of communications agencies and consultancies, proves that how companies communicate and relate to their public is a priority for their success. A survey conducted by Spain’s Association of Communication Directors (DIRCOM) determined that 78% of companies had a communications department at their disposal. Within such a competitive environment, businesses have come around to the fact that they need to offer more than just a product and that a good rapport with different segments of its public can give a great advantage. This explains why the sector has grown both within the company and through external providers like communications agencies and consultancies, who are important allies for managers in this field.
It is also the case that the director of communication’s duties and responsibilites have steadily grown to take on much more than just acting as a media spokesperson. The director’s capabilities must now transcend organising press conferences and writing up press releases. He or she must now be able to think ahead, have a corporate vision and strategy, and be an advisor for all departments. Brand management, execution of public events, marketing and relations with staff are other new obligations which the director of communications must now handle. With all this in mind, a considerable amount of time has had to pass before the company structure has seen fit to accept the existence of the communications department itself, and to realise that its role represents one more element of overall company strategy.