Corley Kenna | Influence 100
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Corley Kenna

Head of Communications & Policy
Patagonia
US

 

In her role at Patagonia, one of America’s most respected, purpose-driven companies, Corley Kenna leads the communication and policy team and is responsible for the development and execution of Patagonia’s global communication strategy and the advancement of key policy issues related to the company’s business and advocacy priorities. She leads strategy for the company’s environmental activism campaigns, advancing responsible business practices, and strengthening democracy/civil engagement. But even a company whose reputation is as storied as Patagonia has its comms challenges: in June, media picked up the story of Patagonia asking 90 remote employees to relocate or leave. 

Kenna began her career in government and politics, working for congressmen and senators, spending election cycles with Hillary for New York and Hillary for President before serving as a senior advisor in the US State Department in the office of Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs in the Obama administration. From there, she made the shift to agency, serving as managing director and chief of staff to the CEO of Burson-Marsteller, building and maintaining global client and media relationships. Kenna then moved in -house, serving as vice president for public affairs and corporate communications at Ralph Lauren, where she led media response and strategy for corporate affairs and crisis situations, before making the move to Patagonia in September 2016.