Senior external and internal communications professional

JASON CAMERON STEWART

Ridgefield, CT *****

http://www.linkedin.com/in/jstewart1 203-***-**** adur7h@r.postjobfree.com

GLOBAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MARKETING PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Communications, marketing, and community engagement executive with expertise in corporate, financial, crisis and change communications, community engagement and corporate giving, as well as government affairs. Senior advisor to C-level decision-makers. Insightful media relations practitioner with exceptional news judgment and ability to develop and foster relationships with journalists. Polished spokesperson. Expert-level external communications and internal communications strategist and writer including senior executive and employee communications, M&A/change communications, earnings announcements, senior management transitions, reductions in force and marketing news. Influence driver who aligns corporate strategy and organizational framework with brand, business objectives, and product/service lines. Tested veteran of crisis communications. Collegial, collaborative management style that builds bridges and consensus among individuals and organizations.

CAREER MILESTONES

OPAL Fuels: Managing all corporate communications (internal/external/social/website) and marketing for start-up company that successfully listed on Nasdaq July 21, 2022

Nestlé Waters North America: Awarded NWNA USA 2020 IMPACT Team of the Year Award for leadership and execution of communications/community engagement/grassroots program. Nominated for 3 NWNA USA 2021 IMPACT Awards for efforts around a COVID-19 program, Disaster Relief efforts and Team of the Year

Nestlé Waters North America: Through stakeholder communications and coordinated cross-functional efforts, defeated water extraction tax legislation that resulted in cost avoidance to the company of approx. $120 million

Nestlé Waters North America: Developed and rolled out national strategic Community Giving Program across Nestlé Waters North America business in 2020

Nestlé Waters North America: Led responses to Tier 1 national and local media outlets (print and electronic) regarding water permits, water withdrawals, sustainability of operations, etc.

Praxair: Developed strategy, planned, and managed external communications for proposed merger between Linde AG and Praxair, Inc.

Praxair: Coordinated across functions to develop global crisis communications plan extending through N. America, S. America, China, India, Europe, and Mexico

The Thomson Corporation: Built company's first external communications department, creating a globally unified corporate message to positively impact brand, image, and public/internal relations and community relations

The Thomson Corporation: Orchestrated publicity campaign for multi-billion-dollar NYSE IPO

The Hartford: Developed internal and external communications regarding participation in government bailout programs

EXECUTIVE PERFORMANCE HIGHLIGHTS

OPAL Fuels, White Plains, NY August 2021-Current

Senior Director Communications & Marketing

Reporting to co-CEOs. Leading corporate communications and marketing function for leading, vertically integrated renewable natural gas (RNG) company. Tasked with strategizing and executing external and internal communications plans and marketing for start-up company that recently went public on Nasdaq exchange.

Building corporate communications and marketing functions to meet needs of gold-standard, industry-leading, publicly traded RNG company.

Leader of strategic communications function, responsible for all communications channels including, Media/Social/Website/Internal.

Led and executed financial communications strategy for company IPO via SPAC process.

Leading and executing on internal communications strategy for start-up company undergoing significant change, merger of multiple companies, and IPO.

Leading marketing function, developing and executing on overall strategy. Manage content from trade shows to customer collateral to content creation.

Leading website re-design to meet variety of stakeholder/audience needs, enhancing look-and-feel of site within branding standards, as well as developing content and improving overall user experience.

Nestlé Waters North America (now BlueTriton Brands), Stamford, CT May 2019-May 2021

Director Stakeholder Communications, Community Engagement and Investment

Reporting to EVP/Chief Communications Officer. Member of department leadership team and company senior team tasked with strategizing and executing response to variety of communications issues and local crises, as well as managing strategic national partnerships and developing and leading national charitable giving program.

Leader on strategic communications team tasked with developing and leading all communications (Media/Stakeholder/Internal) for sale of Nestlé Waters North America operations to partnership of private equity firms. Resulted in successful completion of sale of business in 2021.

Enhance and defend corporate reputation via strategic communications and community engagement campaigns, managing 12+ agencies and collaborating cross-functionally.

Lead grassroots mobilization of associates in key states when facing business threats resulting in defeat of such actions as water extraction taxes and other legislative and community initiatives harmful to the company.

Protect company’s continued access to sustainable water sources by developing and executing compelling written, verbal and video communications.

Developed national strategic Community Giving Program for U.S. business enabling alignment of national charitable giving to company business strategy and objectives, as well as efficient and effective giving process enabling company storytelling of its national efforts.

Develop national partnerships with organizations to enhance corporate reputation. Worked with partners to help change company narrative and showcase long-term commitments to water access for all.

Lead all disaster relief response ensuring more than 23.6 million bottles of water since 2019 were distributed nationally during crises/national disasters.

Lead company response to Flint, Michigan water crisis, including donating more than 15 million bottles of water to the city, coordinating with the Mayor of Flint, the United Way and local community centers to ensure proper water distribution.

Associate Director External Communications April 2018-May 2019

Led responses to Tier 1 and local media outlet (print and electronic) stories regarding water permits, water withdrawals, sustainability of operations, etc. Managed 12+ local agencies across U.S.

Worked with in-house team members and outside strategic partners to develop, implement, and manage external communications to protect NWNA reputation in local communities and nationwide resulting in continued access to sustainable water sources.

Developed and managed interview prep and media training for front-line personnel for interviews, including WABC, WCBS, Al Jazeera TV and numerous local media outlets. Also provided on-site coordination of media interviews.

Praxair (NYSE: PX), Danbury, CT February 2013-April 2018

Head of Global Public Relations

Led global public relations function, executing internal and external communications campaigns and managing crisis communications.

Developed internal/external communications plan regarding proposed business combination of Linde AG and Praxair, Inc., working closely with senior leadership team.

Developed and rolled-out crisis communications program globally resulting in consistent rapid response to crises.

Managed all crises as first communicator on-scene, serving as counselor and spokesperson.

Developed, managed, and moderated crisis communications simulations globally.

Oversaw all internal and external communications materials, including social media posts, CSR reports, employee newsletter and intranet content, press materials, etc.

Developed strategy and executed change communications program for company-wide financial technology platform.

Managed Annual Report and CSR Report process from “cradle to grave.”

Managed regulatory filings for Communications and Investor Relations functions.

Planned and directed events, including quarterly shareholder meetings, and plant openings.

Ogilvy & Mather Public Relations, New York, NY February 2011-January 2013

Vice President

Senior strategic communications and media relations advisor for significant multi-million-dollar accounts within the OPR Corporate Practice, including LexisNexis, SAP, JPMorgan Chase Foundation, and the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, New York.

Led teams of public relations professionals supporting both traditional and digital proactive media campaigns, as well as managing internal communications and crisis communications.

Managed and participated in national and global new business opportunities.

J. Stewart Communications, Ridgefield, CT July 2009-February 2011

Principal

Strategic public affairs consultant and advisor to publicly traded global property developer regarding NYC community and political affairs issues.

Provided strategic counsel to prestigious NYC preparatory school in regard to highly sensitive real estate project issues.

The Hartford (NYSE: HIG), Hartford, CT December 2008-July 2009

Assistant Vice President, Marketing & Communications

Senior strategic communications advisor to management on corporate, financial, and crisis communication issues.

Worked cross-functionally to draft quarterly earnings press releases.

Managed internal communications regarding company’s participation in the US Treasury's Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) and Capital Purchase Program (CPP) during the extreme market volatility of 2009.

The Thomson Corporation (now Thomson Reuters, NYSE: TRI), Stamford, CT August 2000-October 2008

Vice President, Public Relations

Built company's first external communications/public affairs function, creating a consistent, best-in-class messaging platform instituted worldwide through a Global PR Council. Educated and advised senior executives and C-level officers on media strategy, communications policy, thought leadership campaigns, and government affairs

Managed response to numerous crises that appeared in top-tier media, including The New York Times.

Developed and managed senior executive thought leadership program across C-suite and business leaders, including executive communications, speeches, internal communications and media.

Oversaw communications campaigns around $29B+ of business acquisitions, $19B+ of divestitures and $1.5B equity offering and NYSE listing.

Drafted earnings announcements and executive presentations to analysts.

Crafted company’s first Disclosure guidelines and was sole communications representative on Corporate Disclosure Committee.

Managed and developed content for Annual Reports, Newsletters, Press Room Web site and Intranet, senior executive presentations/speeches and special events.

Mentored broad range of PR professionals from junior to senior levels. Mentees now hold senior level communications positions in agency, healthcare, financial and card services businesses.

OTHER RELEVANT EXPERIENCE

Connelly & McLaughlin - Vice President at lobbying and public relations firm

David Kratz & Company - Junior Account Executive at lifestyles PR firm

U.S. Congressman Robert G. Torricelli - Municipal Affairs Director, Campaign Research Director, Legislative Assistant

EDUCATION & PROFESSIONAL PROFILE

New York University / Robert F. Wagner School of Public Service August 1997 to May 1999

Master of Public Administration, concentration in Finance/Public Policy

Connecticut College August 1986 to May 1990

Bachelor of Arts with Honors

Certifications Investor Relations – UC Irvine/National Investor Relations Institute

Affiliations Public Relations Society of America (PRSA)

National Investor Relations Institute (NIRI)

International Association of Business Communicators (IABC)

Boards Links for Life (Founding Member)

Past Board member of IABC Fairfield County Chapter

Advisory Boards Past Board member of Norwalk Community College Communications Arts

program

Past Board member of Software & Information Industry Association, 2001–2007

Awards Nestlé Waters USA 2021 IMPACT Awards Nominee in 3 categories

Nestlé Waters USA 2020 IMPACT Awards Winner for Team of the Year

"40 Under 40 Executives to Watch in Fairfield County," Fairfield County (CT) Business Journal

Contact this candidate