Korn Ferry Survey Reveals Chief Communications Officers’ Rising Influence and Compensation in 2025

NEW YORK, NY – December 18, 2025 – In an era defined by political volatility, rapid technological disruption, and heightened stakeholder expectations, Korn Ferry’s latest Chief Communications Officer (CCO) survey reveals a function experiencing elevation, investment, and strategic relevance. The 2025 survey of senior-most communications executives across the Fortune 500 shows that CCOs are increasingly indispensable advisors to CEOs and Boards, and are commanding higher compensation packages.

The findings from companies across industries—including financial services, consumer, technology, industrials, media, healthcare, and energy—demonstrate that the CCO role continues to expand in scope and resources.

CCOs Gain Influence, Though It Differs Across Sectors

• 51% of respondents report serving on their organization’s Executive Committee or equivalent senior leadership body.
• CCO Executive Committee representation varies by sector: 56% in Consumer Markets vs. 36% in Industrials.
• Reporting lines increasingly lead directly to the CEO: 47% report to CEO today (compared to 40% in 2023).

"In 2025, the CCO is a pivotal architect of corporate reputation and stakeholder trust—no longer a support function but a strategic driver of enterprise value," said Richard Marshall, Korn Ferry’s Global Managing Director, Corporate Affairs and Investor Relations Center of Expertise. “While we see some variation across industries, one clear trend is the growing proximity to the CEO. More CCOs now report directly to the CEO, reflecting the elevation of communications as a core component of enterprise strategy.”

Compensation Rises For CCOs; More Than Half Have Budgets Exceeding $5 Million

• 54% of CCOs report budgets above $5 million.
• Median base salary: $400,000–$450,000 (up from $350,000–$400,000 in 2023).
• Median total target compensation: $900,000–$1 million.
• Nearly half earn seven-figure compensation; about 1 in 7 earn $2 million or more.

"Top communications talent continues to command premium compensation," said Peter McDermott, Senior Client Partner and Head of the Corporate Affairs Practice in North America at Korn Ferry. “Rising compensation packages are clear evidence that top companies are recognizing the strategic value of the function.”

Team Sizes Varies; AI Adoption Accelerates While Strategy Lags

• 62% of CCOs lead centralized communications organizations.
• Team size ranges widely from fewer than 10 to more than 250. Approximately half of respondents had teams of 30 people or more.
• Hiring priorities: media relations, social/digital media, crisis/issues management, executive communications, internal communications.
• 96% use external communication agencies for support.
• 96% leverage AI, while at the same time, 29% lack a defined AI integration strategy.

"In addition to prioritizing hiring for media relations and social and digital media on their teams, nearly all CCOs rely on external agencies,” added Annie Lohmeyer Riva, Principal in Korn Ferry’s Corporate Affairs Practice. “While most CCOs are also embracing AI for support, many organizations have yet to adopt a formal AI integration strategy, creating significant opportunities to operationalize this technology in the years ahead.”

About the Survey

The 2025 Korn Ferry Chief Communications Officer Survey collected data from senior-most communications professionals at Fortune 500 companies in August and September 2025. Communications professionals from 78 companies participated in the survey. Where appropriate, responses from the 2025 survey were compared to earlier benchmarks.

About Korn Ferry

Korn Ferry is a global consulting firm that powers performance. We unlock the potential in your people and unleash transformation across your business—synchronizing strategy, operations, and talent to accelerate performance, fuel growth, and inspire a legacy of change. That’s why the world’s most forward-thinking companies across every major industry turn to us—for a shared commitment to lasting impact and the bold ambition to Be More Than.