Vice President of External Communications (Commercial Solutions)

About the role

Chase Auto is seeking a Vice President of External Communications to shape the external narrative for its Commercial Solutions business unit and provide ad‑hoc communications support to other divisions such as Private Label Captive Finance and Retail & Consumer. This senior position will lead B2B communications, enhance reputation, and secure executive visibility across high‑profile media and industry forums.

Key responsibilities

• Develop and execute the external communications strategy for Commercial Solutions, aligning with enterprise growth objectives.
• Advise senior executives on positioning, media engagement, executive visibility, and reputational risk.
• Create proactive, insight‑driven narratives that showcase innovation, client partnerships, product capabilities, and industry leadership.
• Support media interviews, speaking engagements, major announcements, and thought‑leadership opportunities for executives.
• Own media strategy and cultivate relationships with national, financial, automotive, consumer, and trade press.
• Manage reputational risk and lead communications planning for sensitive or high‑impact situations in coordination with Legal, Compliance, and Corporate Communications.
• Translate complex financial and automotive topics into clear, credible messaging for external stakeholders.
• Collaborate with Consumer and Community Banking and Corporate Communications to ensure consistency with firm‑wide messaging.
• Monitor industry trends and competitive dynamics to inform strategy and identify differentiation opportunities.
• Oversee external agency partners and implement measurement frameworks to evaluate communications effectiveness.

Required profile

• 7+ years of progressively responsible experience in external communications, corporate communications, or public relations.
• Bachelor’s degree in journalism, communications, or a related field.
• Proven success advising senior executives and developing B2B communications strategies.
• Deep understanding of the media landscape, including business, financial, and trade publications.
• Experience securing executive speaking opportunities at industry conferences.
• Strong judgment, executive presence, and ability to anticipate risk while identifying growth opportunities.

Required skills