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Director of Communications Executive Search

Connecting you with senior communications leaders who shape strategy, protect reputation, and drive engagement

Director of Communications Executive Search is business critical for organisations looking to build influence, lead with clarity, and protect their reputation across an increasingly complex stakeholder landscape. With over 20 years of global executive search experience, Hanson Search partners with leading brands, private equity-backed ventures, multinationals, and government-backed entities to place world-class communications leaders.

We work across London, Paris, Dubai, New York, and beyond to help organisations hire Communications Directors who lead from the front — aligning messaging with strategy, driving engagement across audiences, and ensuring your brand and narrative stay resilient in times of growth, change, or scrutiny.

Why Director of Communications Talent Is Strategic

In a hyper-connected, reputation-driven world, the role of Director of Communications has evolved far beyond media relations. Today’s comms leaders are trusted advisors to the C-suite, managing internal and external messaging, reputation, risk, and crisis response in real time.

The right Director of Communications brings a blend of strategic thinking, political acumen, digital literacy, and leadership experience. They ensure your voice is heard — consistently, credibly, and with purpose.

We specialise in senior communications executive search that delivers lasting impact.

Director of Communications Roles We Recruit

Our executive search team places mid-to-senior leadership roles across corporate, agency, and institutional settings, including:

  • Director of Communications

  • Head of Corporate Communications

  • VP Communications or External Affairs

  • Director of Media Relations or Press

  • Global Communications Lead

  • Communications & Reputation Strategy Advisor

We also support broader leadership team builds, succession planning, and interim leadership placements in communications.

Director of Communications Search by Sector

We place Directors of Communications across high-profile, high-stakes sectors including:

  • Financial Services & Investment – from reputation risk to regulatory messaging

  • Energy, Sustainability & Infrastructure – including ESG comms and transition narratives

  • Healthcare & Life Sciences – patient advocacy, innovation comms, and trust building

  • Technology & Digital – managing fast-growth narratives, platform scrutiny, and policy alignment

  • Public Sector & Institutions – stakeholder alignment, policy comms, and crisis response

  • Luxury, Retail & Consumer – brand storytelling, influencer engagement, and omni-channel messaging

Our consultants understand how comms sits at the intersection of brand, leadership, regulation, and internal culture — and we know how to find talent that can operate across all of it.

Our Global Communications Network

From London to Dubai, and New York to Paris, our Director of Communications executive search consultants are embedded in global networks of senior comms professionals.

We work with businesses ranging from early-stage scale-ups to FTSE 100 companies, global NGOs to investor-backed ventures — helping them hire leaders who can steer complex narratives and align messaging with business goals.

Why Choose Us for Communications Executive Search?

  • Over 20 years’ experience in communications, corporate affairs, and reputation search

  • Global reach with deep local market knowledge — UK, UAE, US, Europe

  • Trusted by boards, CEOs, and HRDs for reputation-critical hiring

  • B Corp certified — committed to ethical, diverse, and insight-led recruitment

  • Proven track record of placing transformative communications leaders across sectors

We don’t just fill roles. We find leaders who shape stories, inspire trust, and bring clarity in complexity.

Ready to Start Your Communications Leadership Search?

If you’re hiring a Director of Communications — or looking to structure your leadership team with strategic comms expertise — we’re here to help.

Speak to our specialist team to learn how we can support your search. Or explore our latest market insights to understand how communications leadership is evolving in today’s connected world.

Get in touch









    Introducing
    Our Experts
    With a network spanning the UK, Europe, USA, and the Middle East, our team of recruitment consultants are experts in sourcing the best talent globally.

    Meet the team

    • Global CEO, Regional Head of MENA

      Alice Weightman

      Alice Weightman: CEO, Global Executive Search Leader, and UAE Market Expert: Alice Weightman is the Founder and CEO of Hanson...

    • UK & Europe Managing Partner, Global Head of Public Affairs

      Janie Emmerson

      Janie Emmerson: Janie leads Hanson Search’s UK & European based teams. From the London office, she guides and supports their...

    • Principal consultant, Sales & Marketing

      Nils Gerardin

      Nils Gerardin: Nils Geradin is a seasoned executive search and recruitment consultant with nearly ten years of experience placing senior-level...

    • Managing Partner, Global Head of Corporate Affairs

      Katie Simpson

      Katie Simpson: Having previously spent 10 years in communications, Katie brings real industry insights into the hiring process. Taking her...

    • Partner, Global Head of Healthcare & Communications

      Amy Hayer

      Amy Hayer: Amy brings over 15 years of experience in executive search, with a focus on healthcare communications and international...

    • Partner, European Head of Public Affairs and Communications

      Barbara Ozanon

      Barbara Ozanon: With over a decade of experience in recruitment, executive search, and headhunting, Barbara Ozanon leads Hanson Search’s European...

    • Managing Consultant, Public Affairs & Policy, UK & USA

      Peter Ferguson

      Peter Ferguson: As a Managing Consultant in the Public Affairs Practice, Peter advises and supports some of the world’s most...

    • PA to CEO & Business Support

      Sam White

      Sam White: Sam joined Hanson Search in 2016 as an internal recruiter, bringing prior experience as an independent headhunter. Today,...

    • Associate Director of Operations & Inclusion

      Robyn Field

      Robyn Field: As Associate Director of Operations & Inclusion, Robyn is responsible for all business and administrative operations at Hanson...

    • Consultant, MENA

      Lexi Smith-Muller

      Lexi Smith-Muller: Lexi has over 10 years’ experience of recruitment & talent acquisition, and over 6 years’ experience working in...

    • Principal Consultant, Communications & Marketing

      Helena Ranger

      Helena Ranger: Helena is the Principal Consultant leading the Consumer division across PR and Marketing. She plays a pivotal role...

    • Advisor

      Nicholas Watkins

      Nicholas Watkins: Nicholas has over 30 years of business leadership experience that combines successful careers in the media, leisure and...

    • Senior Consultant, Corporate Affairs & Sustainability

      Allyson Kurian

      Allyson Kurian: Allyson is a specialist in corporate affairs and sustainability communications, working at the mid-to-senior end of the market,...

    • Senior Consultant, Communications, Europe

      Camille Chevallier

      Camille Chevallier: Having started her career as a comms professional, Camille spent 20 years in senior roles within leading agencies...

    • Business Support

      Mirjana R.Dejanovska

      Mirjana Dejanovska: Mirjana is Talent Strategist & Customer Success Manager at our sister company, The Work Crowd. Mirjana joined Hanson...

    • Internal Recruitment & Operations Lead

      Katie Cubbon

      Katie Cubbon: Katie manages internal recruitment at Hanson Search, while also overseeing office management and business operations. With experience across...

    • Senior Researcher

      Arlena Butt

      Arlena Butt: Arlena is a valued senior researcher at Hanson Search, supporting the team across Public Affairs, Corporate Communications, Health...

    • Partner, Global Head of Sustainability

      Johnny Goldsmith

      Johnny Goldsmith: Johnny leads the global Sustainability & ESG practice at Hanson Search. He has over 8 years’ experience in...

    • Senior Consultant, Corporate & Financial Communications, UK & USA

      Rachel L’Estrange

      Rachel L’Estrange: After spending six years in Corporate PR and Marketing, Rachel made the move into recruiting for the industry...

    • Business Support

      Ivana Stevanovska

      Ivana Stevanovska: Ivana is Community and Marketing Executive at our sister company, The Work Crowd. As well as being highly...

    • Head of Interim Communications

      Ben Mitchell

      Ben Mitchell: Head of Interim Communications Ben is Head of Interim Communications and works across both Hanson Search and our...

    • Head of Interim Marketing and Management Recruitment Services

      Madeleine Weightman

      Madeleine Weightman: Madeleine is Head of Interim Marketing and Management Recruitment and co-Founder of The Work Crowd, the sister company...

    • Search Director, MENA

      Amanda Dowie

      Amanda Dowie: Amanda Dowie is an accomplished executive search specialist with over 20 years of global recruitment experience, including more...

    • Researcher

      Fani Mateska

      Fani Mateska: With over four years’ experience in recruitment consultancy, Fani joined Hanson Search in July 2025, bringing expertise from...
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    What people say about us

    Hanson Search’s knowledge of the market is up to date and accurate, they understand day to day needs for their clients, but their real USP is the ability to introduce talent that enables ambition & growth.

    Talent Partner, Blakeney

    Hanson Search is a trusted and valued recruitment partner to MHP Group. They know the business and the teams they work across well and always strive to provide us with the most high-quality candidates.

    Talent Partner, MHP Group

    The Hanson Search team truly places quality over quantity and it’s refreshing. Their robust screening process means that you may only view a handful of candidates but each one of them has something to offer the role.

    Head of Campaigns, Third Bridge

    Hanson Search has been instrumental in identifying and recruiting senior executives for RAK Tourism. They deeply understood the nature of the roles and people we need and provided excellent candidates.

    CEO, RAK Tourism

    Hanson Search quickly ‘got’ us. They were proactive in their search and responsive in their service right from the outset. Very happy client.

    MD, firstlightPR, Paul Davies

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    I’ve worked with headhunters for the past 20 years, but I’ve found Hanson Search has a better understanding of how to attract and secure the right talent for our market.

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