Strategic Communications Counsel
Ongoing senior counsel that aligns what you say with what you need to achieve — so you are heard, trusted, and protected when it matters most.
Book a Strategy Call →Senior counsel, not a junior handoff
Strategic communications counsel is not a campaign plan you hand off and hope works. It is ongoing, senior-level guidance for executives and organizations operating in complex, high-stakes environments — where the wrong message, the wrong messenger, or the wrong timing can undo months of work.
At Perone Consulting, Herb Perone provides that counsel personally. Drawing on more than 30 years across journalism, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, and financial-services public affairs, he helps clients build message architecture, map stakeholders, and develop narratives that hold up under scrutiny from regulators, the press, boards, and employees.
What this engagement covers
Message framework development
A clear, durable set of messages — and the supporting proof points — that executives can use consistently across media, investor, regulatory, and internal audiences.
Stakeholder & audience strategy
Mapping who matters, what they care about, and how to reach them in the right sequence so communications reinforce business objectives rather than competing with them.
Executive communications advisory
Day-to-day counsel for CEOs, GCs, and communications leads facing decisions where tone, timing, and attribution matter as much as the substance.
Narrative development & alignment
Translating strategy into language that boards, employees, clients, and the press can understand — without diluting what needs to be said.
Ongoing situational guidance
A trusted second set of eyes when developments move faster than your internal process can keep up.
Who this is for
- →C-suite and board-facing leaders who need a seasoned advisor — not a junior account team — on call for communications strategy.
- →Organizations in financial services, regulated industries, or policy-adjacent sectors where every public statement carries second-order risk.
- →Communications and public-affairs teams that want senior judgment layered on top of their existing capabilities.
- →Executives preparing for a period of heightened scrutiny: fundraising, leadership transition, regulatory change, or major corporate action.
How Herb works
Herb starts with how decisions get made inside your organization — and who outside it will react. The work begins with listening: business objectives, risk tolerance, audience map, and the constraints that large agencies often skip past.
From there he builds a practical framework: what you stand for, what you will and will not say, and how those choices play out across channels. The goal is not more content. It is clearer, more disciplined communications that protect reputation while advancing the business.
Because every engagement is handled personally, advice arrives at the speed of the decision — not after three layers of account management.
When organizations engage this counsel
Clients typically engage strategic communications counsel ahead of a period that will put leadership under a brighter light: a capital raise, a leadership transition, a regulatory milestone, a contested policy moment, or a sustained stretch of media and stakeholder attention. The value is highest when the framework is in place before decisions have to be made in public.
Others bring Herb in when internal communications capacity is strong on execution but thin on senior judgment — when the question is not “can we ship a statement?” but “should we, and what does that statement commit us to?” That is the gap boutique counsel is built to fill.
Questions about strategic communications
What is strategic communications counsel?
Strategic communications counsel is ongoing, senior-level guidance for executives and organizations navigating complex communications environments. In practice it means message architecture, stakeholder mapping, and narrative development that aligns what you say with your business objectives — so you are heard, trusted, and protected when it matters most.
How is Perone Consulting's strategic counsel different from a large PR agency retainer?
At a large agency you are often pitched by senior people and serviced by junior ones. With Perone Consulting, Herb Perone is your strategist and day-to-day advisor — no handoffs, no account managers, and no agency overhead. You get Washington-level judgment with the responsiveness of a trusted solo practice.
Who typically engages Perone Consulting for strategic communications?
Senior executives and organizations — frequently in financial services, regulatory, and policy-adjacent sectors — that need a seasoned strategic partner rather than a large agency. Engagements often sit alongside an existing communications team or general counsel who want senior counsel on high-stakes decisions.
How do engagements typically begin?
Every engagement begins with a conversation. You can book a complimentary 30-minute strategy call — no obligation and no pitch — through the contact form on this site. Herb responds personally, typically within one business day.
Ready to talk through your situation?
Book a complimentary 30-minute strategy call with Herb — no obligation, no pitch. He responds personally, typically within one business day.
Book a Free Call →