What 150+ CCOs Reveal About the State of Our Profession

For years, our members have told us the same thing: we need real benchmarks, not guesswork. Until now, communications leaders have relied on scattered data, broad HR surveys, or informal peer conversations to understand how the function is resourced and designed.

That changes with the launch of the Page Benchmarking Report, the first release of Page Navigator, our new system to help Chief Communication Officers (CCOs) benchmark their functions, plan with confidence and evolve alongside peers.

What the Data Shows

More than 150 senior communications leaders, representing 14 industries and 18 countries, contributed data to this inaugural study. The findings offer a peer-driven snapshot of how today’s CCOs are building their teams and navigating increasing demands.

Among the key insights:

• Resources remain a challenge. Nearly 60% of CCOs say they lack the resources to succeed, even though three-quarters report stable or growing budgets. Expectations are growing faster than the resources to meet them.
• Growth is uneven. Staffing is expanding in digital, analytics, and brand, while declining in DEI, ESG and social impact communications. This reshaping shows how the portfolio is shifting to meet new demands.
• Scope is shifting. European CCOs are more likely to oversee government affairs and report larger budgets than their North American peers, one of several regional contrasts in the dataset.
• Measurement is evolving. The report highlights how some teams still rely on activity-based KPIs, while others use outcomes-based metrics tied to strategy and business value. 
• Leadership models are diverse. Four distinct CCO archetypes emerged, reflecting differences in team size, budget and remit. These profiles offer a new framework to understand the variety of ways CCOs lead today.
  

Why This Matters

This is more than a report. It’s the foundation of Page Navigator, a multi-part system that combines:

• Benchmarking Reports (Trend, Sector and Custom)
• The Functional Framework (to help CCOs apply the data)
• Affinity Groups (launching in 2026, to foster peer-to-peer learning)

Together, these tools give CCOs the evidence, frameworks and networks to make strategic decisions with confidence.

A Peer-Driven Future

What makes this initiative unique is that it is built by and for Page members. Every data point was contributed by practitioners who face the same challenges. With each cycle, as members add more input and share resources like org charts and dashboards, the dataset will deepen and the insights will sharpen.

The communications function is evolving rapidly. With Page Navigator, we now have a system that helps us evolve together, grounded in evidence, powered by peers and focused on impact.