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 Company: AECOM, New York, NY
Company Description: AECOM (NYSE: ACM) is a global provider of professional technical and management support services to a broad range of markets, including transportation, facilities, environmental and energy. AECOM has 32,000-plus employees who serve clients in more than 60 countries, and had revenue of $4.2 billion during fiscal year 2007.
Nomination Category: Corporate Communications, Investor Relations, & Public Relations Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Best Communications Organization/Department
Nomination Title: AECOM Technology Corporation – Corporate Communications Department
- Tell the story about what this nominated organization/department achieved since January 1 2007 (up to 500 words). Focus on specific accomplishments, and relate these accomplishments to past performance or industry norms. Be sure to mention obstacles overcome, innovations or discoveries made, and outcomes:
As the communications organization of a $4.2-billion professional-technical and
management-support services firm with operations in more than 60 countries,
AECOM Corporate Communications has ultimate responsibility for investor
relations, media and community relations, crisis communications and employees
communications.
2007 was a particularly complex year for the nine-member team, which had to
communicate all aspects of the company’s initial public offering (IPO) on the
New York Stock Exchange and execute its ongoing investor relations strategy
while also focusing on the company’s first global employee engagement survey
and introducing AECOM’s newly defined purpose and core values.
Throughout the year, AECOM needed to effectively introduce a strongly unified
corporate identity and an integrated approach to communications with its public
debut. Moreover, substantial internal outreach would be critical to the
success of the IPO and beyond. AECOM had long been exclusively employee-owned,
a factor that reflected the paramount importance of professional talent and
employee retention. AECOM ultimately wanted to use the IPO as a transforming
event to unify its global employee base behind a common corporate identity.
IPO Communications
The team began its efforts in January by conducting an audience analysis
covering internal and external audiences, then created a 200-line
communications project plan that was posted in “war rooms” in its Los Angeles
headquarters and New York office. Key tactics during the IPO included a
proactive media barrage, employee FAQ documents, a hybrid video-PowerPoint
presentation and letters from the chief executive officer to employees
explaining the rationale behind the move to go public.
When the IPO completed in mid-May, it was the third largest of the year to date
and was one of the largest ever in AECOM’s industry. Additionally, 81% of
employees maintained their shares in the company. Analysis of media coverage
showed that 50% of clips reflected five or more key messages, and 75% reflected
at least three.
Purpose, Core Values and Employee Engagement Survey Launch
During March, as IPO communications were underway and AECOM’s ongoing investor
relations strategy was being cemented, the decision was made to introduce a
newly identified purpose and core values within a month and then launch its
first-ever global employee engagement survey by early June. Key tactics led by
the communications team included an announcement from senior leaders
introducing the new purpose and core values, a video for employees that
featured executives speaking about these concepts, and related posters and
pocket cards printed in seven languages.
Immediately after these items were introduced, a comprehensive survey
communications plan was implemented. It included CEO messages, office posters,
e-mail blasts, intranet banner ads and articles in the company’s weekly global
newsletter to encourage employee participation. As a result, the survey’s
participation rate was 81% -- a figure that, according to survey partner Towers
Perrin, is higher than average for similar companies conducting their first
survey.
- List hyperlinks to any online news stories, press releases, or other documents that support the claims made in the section above. IMPORTANT: Begin each link with http://, and enclose each link in square brackets; for example, [http://www.youraddress.com]:
http://investors.aecom.com
http://pr.aecom.com
http://www.aecom.com/About/38/56/index.jsp
http://www.aecom.com/media/5227.pdf
http://thestevies.com/ABA08Attachments/Aecom/
- Provide a brief (up to 100 words) biography about the leader(s) of the nominated organization/department:
Paul Gennaro, who joined AECOM in March of 2006, has 20 years of experience
managing corporate communications and public relations. In his role at AECOM,
he leads all aspects of the company’s global corporate communications efforts,
including: investor relations, corporate brand and reputation management,
public and media relations, internal communications, crisis and issues
management, philanthropy and community relations, and government relations.
Prior to AECOM, Gennaro managed all global corporate and marketing
communications for Johns Manville, a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, Inc. He
also has held communications leadership roles at Ingersoll-Rand Company, Ltd.,
Dell Computer Corp., and American Express Company.
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