Joshua Slavitt – Public Affairs Executive
Corporate Social Responsibility / Stakeholder Engagement Strategy
External Affairs / Change & Crisis Management
Public Policy Opposition Research / Government Affairs
International Experience / Compliance Budget Management
Cost Control / Staff Development
Developed successful programs to influence public opinion and government action for Forum Strategies & Communications and Fortune 50 consumer products leader for Altria Group / Philip Morris. Strong record of leadership in public and external affairs. Directed effective crisis management.
Led successful initiatives to strengthen cohesiveness of communications with all internal and external stakeholders.
- Managed budgets to $10M and staff to 62.
- Led strong, cross-functional teams.
- Developed €100 million global signature program on sustainable mobility for manufacturer of luxury cars, heavy trucks, and buses.
- Directed government affairs challenge in Australia; addressed a $600 million illegal tobacco market.
- Centralized Kraft, Miller, PMUSA and PM Companies Issues Management, played key role in mitigating FDA assertion of jurisdiction over tobacco and in the Master Settlement Agreement.
- Revamped nationwide public affairs team at Altria; improved efficiency and responsiveness while cutting costs.
- Streamlined external affairs portfolio and saved $4M annually for Altria after name change.
Key Responsibilities
Directed public and external affairs to protect corporate image. Led change management and crisis communications. Built consensus among internal and external stakeholders. Developed innovative communication and policy initiatives to cement public trust and influence opinion. Stayed ahead-of-the-curve on changing public attitudes. Recruited highly effective teams. Provided coaching and mentoring.
Selected Accomplishments
Developed comprehensive website for Diageo on the issues of responsible drinking and youth access. Diageo sought comprehensive Internet site highlighting responsible consumption of alcohol and company programs to prevent youth access to their products. Recommended interactive site, with more focus on direct employee comments about their roles and responsibilities, links to experts and viral communications that would transmit messages further and more effectively. Site was planned to run globally in eight languages. Visit http://www.DrinkIQ.com to see the results.
Directed government affairs challenge in Australia, addressing a $600 million illegal tobacco market. Organized crime and terrorist organizations were by-passing the legitimate tobacco market by buying tobacco directly from farmers and selling tobacco on the street. Brokered a compromise between tobacco growers, retailers and the Australian national government to make it illegal to purchase unprocessed tobacco from growers. Worked with Australian federal authorities including members of government and law enforcement.
Centralized Kraft, Miller, PMUSA and PM Companies issues management, playing key role in mitigating FDA assertion of jurisdiction over tobacco and in the Master Settlement Agreement. Issues management was uncoordinated. Centralized multiple functions to exert tighter coordination and effectiveness for all PM operating companies. Provided key policy resources during negotiations of 46-state Master Settlement Agreement. Enabled creation of effective message strategy responsive to concerns of legislative and judicial authorities and US public. Played key role in mitigating FDA assertion of jurisdiction over tobacco products.
Revamped nationwide public affairs team at Altria, improving efficiency and responsiveness while cutting costs. Field team organization of state consulting firms was costly, inefficient and created conflict among operating units. Reviewed organizational structure. Centralized control, ensuring consistent adherence to corporate objectives across all operating companies. Renegotiated and eliminated outside consulting contracts, cutting costs 10%.
Streamlined external affairs portfolio, saving $4M annually for Altria after name change. Company had affiliations with over 2000 business, trade, public policy and civic organizations at annual cost of $10M. Following name change from Philip Morris, conducted cost-benefit analysis of memberships. Developed benchmarking matrix to select which organizations to continue funding. Reduced portfolio by 33%, retaining only most highly effective relationships.
Grew successful small business consulting practice to provide strategic counseling to struggling small business owners. Supported a number of small business owners to improve financial position, marketing and sales plans, public relations, and in developing goals and strategic plans, teambuilding and overall business capabilities. Helped each client grow business and reduce costs within a struggling economy as well as to develop a greater understanding of the business in order to make more effective strategic decisions to improve long-term viability.
Education & Special Training
- BA, Government, Colby College
- Training Programs at Altria / Philip Morris
- PMMC Gold Leadership Program
- Barnum Associates Executive Comprehension Lab
- Leadership Development Program
- CSR/Compliance Development & Implementation
- Certified Business Coach, ActionCOACH, International and International Association of Business Coaches
Awards
- Special Achievement Awards
- Altria / Philip Morris, five-time recipient
- National Association of Police Organizations,
- Lawer Memorial Award (Highest Civilian Award)
- National Association of State Fire Marshals,
- Corporate Citizenship Award
- West Coast Black Publishers, President’s Award
Career History
Certified Strategic Business Advisor, Intelligent Management, Inc.(affiliate of ActionCoach of CT) 2009–present. Provide strategetic consulting and coaching services to small business owners for skill development in finance, marketing, sales and business planning.
Director Issues Management, Forum Strategies & Communications, 2007-2009. Provided custom-tailored public affairs programming and stakeholder relations for clients in Fortune 500 companies. Prioritized business threats and opportunities and developed responses for implementation the public policy arena.
Various Public Affairs Positions at Altria Group Inc. / Philip Morris, $101B Consumer Products Company, 1990-2006. Progressively promoted through positions at parent and operating companies in US and Australia, including:
Senior Director, Government Affairs Policy & Outreach. Directed nationwide public affairs program to enhance relationship development and management with key business, policy and civic organizations.
Director, External Affairs. Managed portfolio of 2000+ public policy, business and civic organizations. Directed efforts to improve stakeholder engagement and enhance corporate reputation.
Director, Public Policy. Directed corporate affairs efforts for Philip Morris International in Australia/New Zealand and South Pacific markets.
Director, Policy & Planning. Created new Issues Management Department in US, conducting issues analysis, public opinion research, economic and legislative analysis, and opposition research for PMUSA, Kraft and Miller Brewing.
Senior Manager, Issues Planning. Developed innovative Youth Smoking Prevention /Access to Tobacco initiative.
Earlier Career: Executive Director, Foundation for Economic Research and Assistant Legislation Director, United States Defense Committee.
Memberships
- Issues Management Council
- Public Affairs Council
- International Association of Business Communicators-NY Chapter
- Gerson Lehrman Group Law & Regulatory Committee
- World Taekwondo Federation
