Voya Financial announced that Paul J. Gennaro has joined the company as senior vice president, Corporate Communications, and chief communications officer. In this role, he will oversee all internal and external communications for Voya Financial, serving as a strategic advisor to senior management, setting the overall communications strategy, and both further defining and protecting the company’s reputation with key stakeholders. He will report to Chairman and CEO Rodney O. Martin, Jr.
«Paul is a recognized thought leader and has demonstrated experience working with several well-known global brands to help them strategically and effectively communicate with multiple stakeholders,» said Martin. «He has an impressive record, a diverse background of communications leadership roles, and significant experience overseeing programs to support a number of initiatives, including a successful initial public offering and a global rebranding effort. He will be a great asset as we continue to further define and protect our reputation in the industry and our brand in the marketplace. I’m pleased to have him on our team and I am looking forward to working closely with him as we continue to work toward achieving our vision to be America’s Retirement Company.»
Gennaro comes to Voya Financial with more than 25 years of experience and, during his career, has managed various facets of corporate and marketing communications, investor relations, public relations and government affairs. Most recently, Gennaro was senior vice president, Corporate Communications, and chief communications officer of AECOM, a $20 billion, fully integrated infrastructure and support services firm. At AECOM, Gennaro led all aspects of the firm’s global corporate communications, brand optimization and reputation management strategies. During his tenure at AECOM, which Gennaro joined in March 2006, he developed and executed communications strategies in support of more than 40 acquisitions, the company’s initial public offering and its global rebrand.
«I’m excited to join the Voya team and to be part of a company with a great vision and a commitment to helping Americans with their retirement readiness needs,» Gennaro said. «I look forward to helping build the Voya brand – and to helping Americans build a secure financial future.»
Prior to joining AECOM, Gennaro managed all global corporate and marketing communications for Johns Manville, a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, Inc. He has also held communications leadership roles for global brands such as Ingersoll-Rand, Dell, and American Express. Gennaro began his career as a print/broadcast journalist and public affairs officer for the U.S. Navy.
Gennaro received a Bachelor of Science degree in aeronautics from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. He is a board member of Ethisphere LLC, serves on the board of advisors for the Emory University Center for Ethics, and also is on the board of directors for the DINFOS Foundation, which supports the U.S. Department of Defense Information School.
Gennaro is the recipient of several professional awards, including being named PR Week magazine’s PR Professional of the Year in 2013. He also received the 2013 John W. Hill Award from the New York Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America and, in 2010, the International Business Award for Communications Executive of the Year.