Jon F Harmon, communications Consultant & author
Novelist at Large
About Jon F. Harmon
Deeply experienced and trusted advisor
- Serving corporate and nonprofit leaders with strategic counsel.
- Building brand, protecting reputation through proactive media relations and consistent internal engagement. Exceptional crisis management skills.
- Leveraging skills, experience and judgment gained from senior roles at three global corporations with well-established brands, Jon has consulted for leaders in a variety of industries, including automotive, clean tech, financial services, professional services, health care and not-for-profit for reputation management and brand building.
Ford Motor Company: Learned the art and science of media relations and strategic communications in increasingly responsible management roles over more than 20 years with the global automaker:
- Senior assignments included leading large teams responsible for complex global corporate issues affecting the company's reputation; new vehicle media introductions and other product communications in direct support of Marketing and Sales; as well as corporate social responsibility / sustainability initiatives and stakeholder engagement.
Navistar International: As VP-Communications at the global commercial truck and engine manufacturer:
- Led effort to regain trust following a financial-reporting crisis and delisting from NYSE. Regained confidence of employees and external stakeholders with proactive, forward-looking messages stressing growth and diversification.
- Recreated robust internal communications that had gone “dark” during financial uncertainty.
Heidrick & Struggles: As VP-Communications at the global executive search and leadership advisory firm:
- Drove enhanced brand consideration globally through earned media placements.
- Led transformation communications, including re-imagined internal engagement, roll-out of the CEO’s “Heidrick Rising” strategy to employees in 51 offices in 30 countries.
- Led firm’s annual communications presence at World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
Author:
- Business case study: Feeding Frenzy: Inside the Ford-Firestone Crisis
- Literary novel: Scraps of Grace