Experience

LEVEE COMMUNICATIONS

• United States
• Public Relations and Communications Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Co-Founder and Managing Partner

  • May 2019 - Present

  Andrew Backover is co-founder and managing partner of Levee Communications, which provides large and small companies with deep experience, diverse expertise and measurable results in all facets of stakeholder engagement. With an efficient business model, Levee delivers substantial value during every phase of communications – for internal and external audiences -- from strategy to developing integrated communications plans and execution. Andy’s strong background in branding, restructuring, M&A, internal communications, labor relations, crisis/issues management and social engagement -- for consumer and B2B brands in the telecom, aviation and oil and gas -- helps clients play offense more successfully and prepares them to play defense when needed. For more information, visit our site at: https://leveecommunications.com/home.



ABCommunications, LLC

• Managing Principal

  • Nov 2017 - May 2019

  After managing communications during four mergers (three completed), two DOJ lawsuits, two corporate restructurings (including a complex Chapter 11), two brand launches and more operational and reputation crises than I can count, I have taken a break from in-house corporate life with the launch of this little consultancy. My client audience includes corporations and communications agencies which periodically want access to senior counsel for projects, pitches and hands-on work but don't want the permanent cost structure. With a career spanning 13 years as a journalist and 14 years as a communications professional in the telecom, airline and oil and gas industries, I am excited to add value to projects ranging from change management and employee engagement to media relations, financial communications, speech-writing, branding and social media strategy. Andy's Background: With more than 25 years of experience -- as a reporter for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Denver Post and USA Today, and as a communications leader at such global brands as AT&T, American Airlines and Baker Hughes -- Andy is an accomplished professional with experience managing: • Communications for product, services and technology marketing; • Communications for financial, restructuring, governance, compensation, labor, public policy, regulatory and M&A issues; • Internal communications, change management and employee engagement programs; • Social media and customer communications; and • Brand development, strategy and execution. He also has a strong background in: • Journalism and writing, including investor scripts, employee communications and speeches; • Team development and organizational change; • Media and advocacy relations; • Managing corporate citizenship/cause marketing programs; • Crisis and reputation management; • Digital and print publishing; and • Counseling and positioning senior leaders on a variety of issues.



Baker Hughes

• Norway
• Oil and Gas
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Vice President, Communications

  • Jan 2015 - Jul 2017

  Manage a team of 10 professionals responsible for global internal and external communications, crisis communications and issues management, and social media engagement for one of the world’s largest oilfield services providers. • Lead the global internal and external communications strategy to build awareness of Baker Hughes’ position as an innovation and technology leader in the oil-and-gas sector. • Oversee product communications in support of the Marketing and Sales teams. • Manage internal communications on financial performance and objectives, and partner with Investor Relations for external financial communications. • Responsible for content and engagement on social media channels. • Provide senior leader speechwriting and presentation support for internal and external events. • Manage integration communications related to Baker Hughes’ pending acquisition by Halliburton. • Built a crisis communications response plan to support the company and protect corporate reputation during incidents involving operations, issues, health, safety and the environment. • Created a media-training program to prepare subject matter experts for spokesperson roles. • Built media/social media monitoring program to measure share-of-voice and reputation impact.



American Airlines

• United States
• Airlines and Aviation
• 700 & Above Employee

• Vice President, Communications

  • Nov 2011 - Dec 2013

  Managed American's global communications team (including internal/labor and external communications, influencer relations and responsibility for Europe, Asia and Latin America), social media strategy and daily operations, community programs (cause marketing partnerships, a veterans and military support initiative and employee volunteering/fundraising) and publishing of American's three in-flight magazines (American Way, Celebrated Living and Nexos). Also managed event planning and creative services resources, a significant budget and global agency infrastructure. Led an amazing team of approximately 90 passionate and dedicated professionals during a Chapter 11 restructuring, transformation of the company's products, services and brand and the merger with US Airways to create the new American Airlines.

• Managing Director, External Communications

  • Mar 2010 - Nov 2011

  Managed global external communications, including social media, government affairs support, a third-party influencer program, diverse segment communications and communications efforts in Latin America, Europe and Asia.

• Director, Financial Public Relations and Publishing

  • May 2006 - Mar 2010

  Managed financial communications, including support for financial reports and disclosures, leadership compensation, shareholder communications and governance issues.



AT&T

• United States
• Telecommunications
• 700 & Above Employee

• Corporate Media Relations Director

  • Mar 2004 - Mar 2006

  Played a lead role in managing corporate and financial media relations activities. Primary media contact for financial, governance/compensation, technology and operational issues. Played a lead role in managing corporate and financial media relations activities. Primary media contact for financial, governance/compensation, technology and operational issues.



USA TODAY

• United States
• Newspaper Publishing
• 700 & Above Employee

• Telecommunications Reporter

  • Nov 2000 - Mar 2004

  Covered news, events, issues and people in the telecommunications industry. Topics included M&A activity, accounting fraud, SEC and criminal investigations, congressional hearings, governance reform, Chapter 11 reorganizations, public policy changes and technology trends. Covered news, events, issues and people in the telecommunications industry. Topics included M&A activity, accounting fraud, SEC and criminal investigations, congressional hearings, governance reform, Chapter 11 reorganizations, public policy changes and technology trends.



The Denver Post

• United States
• Book and Periodical Publishing
• 200 - 300 Employee

• Telecommunications Reporter

  • Sep 1999 - Oct 2000

  Covered telecommunications and technology news, events and issues. Covered telecommunications and technology news, events and issues.



Fort Worth Star-Telegram

• Newspaper Publishing
• 200 - 300 Employee

• Reporter

  • Apr 1996 - Sep 1999

  Covered local and business news. Covered local and business news.



The Philadelphia Inquirer

• United States
• Technology, Information and Internet
• 500 - 600 Employee

• Correspondent

  • Feb 1995 - Mar 1996

  Covered local news for South Jersey bureau. Covered local news for South Jersey bureau.