In recent years, several developments have created the need for GCs to take a larger role in corporate communications—most notably the rise of shareholder activism, proliferation of social media, and heightened awareness of workplace misbehavior as reflected in the #MeToo movement.

Shareholder activists have brought corporate governance issues once considered arcane into the public spotlight, and increasingly do not confine their overtures to proxy season. Adding to these dynamics is the impact of social media, which has eroded the wall that used to separate internal and external issues. In a culture where individuals often feel comfortable sharing the trail of text messages, emails and even recordings that track virtually all interactions, what used to be a discrete human resources issue now has the potential to explode into a public news event in the blink of an eye. These and other factors mean the risks to a company’s reputation—and market capitalization—are constant, more varied and can accelerate faster.