Where do we belong?

At least four or five times a year, Ragan Report gets asked this question: Where in the organization chart should corporate communications fall? In other words, who should we report to? The question has been asked, and not answered, for years. Of course, in a perfect world, corp comm would have its own box on the org chart. It would be its own department. It would consist of all communications—internal and external but excluding marketing—and it would carry the same weight as the other big boxes—human resources, legal, sales and marketing, etc. The leader of corporate communications would be a vice president, reporting directly to the CEO. She would have that elusive seat at the table, and be involved in all major business decisions at the very beginning of the process. And her voice would be as loud, and as well-heard, as anyone else’s at that table.