Seventy-two percent of companies with $25 billion or more in revenue have a chief communications officer who helps the executive team inform business strategy, compared with 48 percent of companies overall, our survey of 149 companies reveals.

Companies with revenue of $25 billion or more lead the way on how to elevate the strategic importance of the corporate communications function, our survey of 149 public and private companies reveals. Several findings suggest these companies—which are often also public—are focused on building a function that is grounded in business strategy and staffed by people who have expertise in the company’s industry and operations and are familiar with how competitors strategize and operate. Being a strong writer or well-connected in the media is no longer enough.