Why CommsCollectiv
Brian Besanceney
C-Level Corporate Affairs & Communications Executive
Brian Besanceney is an accomplished C-Level Corporate Affairs & Communications Executive with an impressive +25- year career of advancement in increasingly demanding senior leadership roles helping globally-renowned brands, including Boeing, Walmart, Disney, and the White House. A two-time Fortune 50 Chief Communications Officer, he has a unique set of experiences in not only protecting and enhancing the reputation of brands at serious high-profile junctures, but transforming the way communications organizations work in an increasingly digital and connected world.
Most recently as CCO of The Boeing Company, Brian led a 475-person team with responsibility for internal/external digital communications, media relations, crisis communications, brand marketing, and merchandising. He took immediate action to modernize the communications function after years of leadership transition. This included reinvigorating the team with a clear vision for the future; introducing new best practices such as the widespread adoption of Axios Smart Brevity as an internal communications model; and expanding the use of digital insights, analytics, and AI tools. These actions strengthened the team and played an essential role in navigating a high-profile operational and reputational crisis in 2024.
Previously, Brian served as a SVP and CCO for Walmart Inc. As Walmart’s first-ever CCO, he led the company’s global communications team, including media, associate, and stakeholder communications, along with the company’s corporate social and digital channel strategy and special events. Brian transformed this previously disconnected and defensive-minded group into a world-class communications team, bringing the company’s story to life in new and innovative ways – a key center of excellence in Walmart’s widely recognized corporate affairs function.
Prior to this, Brian held executive roles at The Walt Disney Company, serving as SVP of Public Affairs for Walt Disney World leading internal/external communications, government relations, and corporate citizenship for the world’s largest single-site employer. As well, he led worldwide government and industry relations across Disney’s global Parks & Resorts division. In his first role at Disney, as VP of Public Affairs for Business Development for the Parks & Resorts division, he played a key role in ensuring Disney’s successful market entry into Shanghai.
For eight years, Brian served in leadership roles in the administration of President George W. Bush. He was Deputy Chief of Staff to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice at the U.S. Department of State, and Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. He also served as Special Assistant to the President and Deputy White House Communications Director in President Bush’s first term.
Early in his career, Brian served as Communications Director for then-U.S. Rep. Rob Portman (R-Ohio), as well as a public relations and state government relations consultant.
Brian serves as Chair of the Board of Directors for Orlando Health, a high-performing +$7 billion health system in the Southeast. Additionally, he is on the Board of Trustees for the Institute of Public Relations, and is a member of Page, the association of chief communications officers. Previously, he served on the boards of the Trust for the National Mall and the Florida Chapter of The Nature Conservancy. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his wife and two daughters.
A native of Cincinnati, Ohio, Brian launched his career upon obtaining his B.A. in Political Science & History from The Ohio State University, where he is a member of the Dean’s Advisory Council for the College of Arts & Sciences. Brian’s breadth of corporate affairs leadership experience and his exceptional depth as a communications practitioner and thought leader bring a game-changing perspective to the table as internal and external stakeholder expectations and technologies continue to rapidly evolve.
