The industry is buzzing about the role of the chief communications officer, a topic jumpstarted this month by this op-ed in PRWeek by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Torod Neptune, a former top comms exec himself. 

Adding her expertise on this week’s episode is Candace Steele Flippin, VP of thought leadership and professional development at Page, who talks about her organization’s new research on the topic. 

Plus, the biggest marketing and communications news of the week, including why Converse apologized for a new campaign, layoffs at Edelman, the launch of Trump TV and the latest provocative Sydney Sweeney ad. 

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It’s definitely something on the minds of in-house communications execs: How is the chief communications officer position changing? Does it matter if it reports to the CEO? Is it shrinking in importance? The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Torod Neptune raised those questions in an op-ed last week, and Jon Harris discusses them further on this week’s edition of The PR Week. 

Plus, Harris talks about his expectations for entries for the PRWeek Awards 2027 and discusses the biggest PR and communications news of the week, including Frank Shaw stepping down at Microsoft and concerns about safety — human safety, to be specific — related to AI. 

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It’s a very special episode as Steve Barrett makes his return to The PR Week. 

The guest on the September 10, 2026, edition of The PR Week is Kenny Gold, who was appointed this year as Edelman’s first chief creator officer. 

He talks about the changing creator economy and creators as media outlets and news sources in their own right, as well as how his agency advises brands that are working with them. 

Plus, the biggest marketing, PR and communications news of the week, including how Publicis Groupe ended up handling media for both Coca-Cola and PepsiCo, the start of the 2026 NFL season and the legacy of Gloria Steinem. 

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 Kelly McGinnis has worked across technology and consumer PR, most recently as chief communications officer at Levi Strauss & Co. Now, she’s teaching students about having a seat at the table in a graduate course at the University of San Francisco. 

On the agenda for this week’s episode: 

PRWeek reporter Jeremy Sodergren discusses the top PR and communications news of the week, including:

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The latest guest on The PR Week is Charlotte West, VP of global corporate communications at Lenovo. 

She talks about how Lenovo’s role as official technology partner of the 2026 FIFA World Cup was much more than a sponsorship, improving operations and even the broadcast of the tournament. West also talks about how her team is using AI, balancing one global message with regional specifics and making earnings calls more interesting. 

Plus, the biggest marketing and communications news of the week, including crises at Callaway Golf and Neutrogena, people moves at Walmart and Wendy’s, the start of the US Open and the death of entertainment legend and philanthropist Dolly Parton.

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From public affairs officer in the U.S. Navy to leading communications at New York Life and previously Voya Financial, Paul Gennaro has had a career spanning major organizations. He talks about that and how New York Life is implementing AI on the latest edition of The PR Week. 

Also on the agenda this week: PRWeek’s 2026 Hall of Fame class. And PRWeek’s Jess Ruderman talks about the biggest marketing and communications news of the week, including new appointments at Vaseline and Burson and The Athletic’s “Advantage calendar for football fans.”

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The latest guest on The PR Week is Grant Toups, global CEO of Hotwire. 

Toups talks about his first days and weeks on the job after stepping into Hotwire’s top role more than six months ago, as well as how his agency uses AI and works with influencers and creators. He also chats about his inspirations from the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. 

Plus, PRWeek’s Julia Walker discusses the biggest PR and communications news of the week, including PRWeek’s 2026 40 Under 40 list, Burson’s acquisition of AI company Limbik, a change at the top of American Airlines’ communications team and much more.

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The latest guest on The PR Week is Ann Melinger, CEO of Bink, which works with biotech and life sciences companies on organizational culture, employee engagement and change management. 

She talks about Bink’s new Culture at Work Study and its key findings about how some companies fail to produce winning cultures while others thrive. 

Plus, PRWeek’s Diana Bradley on the biggest PR and communications news of the week, including key executive exits at Conagra, Edelman and Airbnb and acquisitions by FGS Global and One Strategy Group.

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What area of marketing is best positioned to be in charge of affiliate marketing? Mike Rush, EVP and partner at 360PR+, makes the case that it’s PR on the latest edition of The PR Week. 

Rush also talks about the Boston PR market and what it’s like having a lettuce client in the current news cycle. Plus the biggest marketing and communications news of the week, such as PRWeek’s Power List 2026, Wendy’s decision to hire a new PR AOR for the first time in more than 30 years, a new chief communications officer at Skims and a look inside the New York Liberty’s PR playbook.

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In beautiful Cannes, France, one of the most interesting places during the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity is actually a basement — because that’s where the shortlisted campaign case studies are. 

The latest guest on The PR Week, Taj Reid, global chief creative officer at Burson, talks about that and much more, including how Burson and VML won the PR Lions Grand Prix for their work for client KitKat. Reid also chats about unconventional paths into the industry, AI’s impact on creativity and inspirational work. 

Plus, PRWeek’s Carina Cole talks about winners and losers from the World Cup — that’s to say brand winners and losers — and effective tournament marketing by players, countries and fans.

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