Why CommsCollectiv
Eric Kraus
Communications & Marketing Consultant/Co-Founder, CommsCollectiv
Eric Kraus is a Co-Founder of CommsCollectiv, a company that provides businesses with access to best-in-class communications expertise on an interim or fractional basis, and the principal of Kimball Road Strategies, a marketing, communications and public affairs consultancy. He has extensive experience in global corporate communications, corporate marketing, government affairs, stakeholder management and crisis communications, with a proven track record of significant accomplishment and business impact. Mr. Kraus provides counsel and support to CEOs and other members of management teams regarding media strategy, executive communications, financial and merger-related communications, brand communications, issues management and corporate social responsibility/ESG.
Throughout his career, Mr. Kraus has handled more than 7500 interviews collectively, with electronic, print and digital media outlets throughout the world – either as a spokesperson or preparing senior leaders for an interview. He has led issues management and crisis communications initiatives for the past 20+ years, and publicly dealt with some of the most difficult challenges any company will ever face. Mr. Kraus managed multiple product launches that generated substantial publicity; handled several mergers and acquisitions; launched companies and foundations; and successfully dealt with a number of key external stakeholders on positive and potentially damaging issues. Further, he has managed more than 140 public relations and marketing agencies throughout the world.
Mr. Kraus is the former executive vice president, corporate communications and public affairs, for Clean Harbors, North America’s leading provider of environmental services. Prior to joining Clean Harbors in 2014, Mr. Kraus was chief communications officer for Bacardi Ltd.
Prior to Bacardi, Mr. Kraus was senior vice president, corporate communications and public affairs at Covidien plc. a leading $12 billion global health care products company. In addition to overseeing the spin-off of the health care division of Tyco International and creating the Covidien brand, he was responsible for directing Covidien’s global communications, government affairs and CSR strategies.
Before joining Covidien, Mr. Kraus served as vice president, external relations for the Procter & Gamble Company, a position he assumed following the merger of P&G and The Gillette Company. In this position, he had worldwide responsibility for all communications and public affairs strategies and functions. During his tenure, he played a key role in dozens of product launches and marketing campaigns, as well as the development of the Gillette Centers for Women’s Cancers at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Massachusetts General Hospital. He was also instrumental in negotiating the naming rights of Gillette Stadium, home of the NFL’s New England Patriots.
Earlier in his career, Mr. Kraus worked for Miller Brewing Company, BBDO Worldwide and the Boston Herald. He is a graduate of Boston University.