Experience

LEVEE COMMUNICATIONS

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

• Co-founder, Managing Partner

  • May 2019 - Present

  Dallas, Texas Charles Nicolas 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 and reputation management. 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. Charles has 25+… Show more Charles Nicolas 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 and reputation management. 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. Charles has 25+ years of Communications experience in domestic and international markets while working in Fortune 200 companies such as PepsiCo, Tenet Healthcare and Burger King Corporation. Beyond senior in-house roles at major corporations, Charles also launched a consulting practice with diverse clients in industries as wide-ranging as technology, CPG, healthcare, apparel, chemicals, coatings, and banking. Show less



Tenet Healthcare

• United States
• Hospitals and Health Care
• 700 & Above Employee

• Vice President, Communications

  • Sep 2015 - Dec 2018

  Dallas, Texas . Led Tenet's Hospital Communications function and was responsible for delivering the company's communications strategy. . Drove Tenet's message across media relations, crisis response and other external and internal communications programs, as well as the company's digital/social media platforms.



Sky Blue Consulting

• President

  • Jul 2013 - Sep 2015

  Dallas/Fort Worth Area As President, established an executive level consulting practice in corporate and marketing communications to diverse clients, including Samsung and Valspar. • Provide C-suite clients with CCO level capabilities and counsel for any communications related plans or projects. • Proven track record of success in industries as wide-ranging as technology, CPG, apparel, chemicals, and banking. • Shows innate capability to quickly and accurately assess a company‘s strategic communication… Show more As President, established an executive level consulting practice in corporate and marketing communications to diverse clients, including Samsung and Valspar. • Provide C-suite clients with CCO level capabilities and counsel for any communications related plans or projects. • Proven track record of success in industries as wide-ranging as technology, CPG, apparel, chemicals, and banking. • Shows innate capability to quickly and accurately assess a company‘s strategic communication needs and provide counsel to senior executives on action plans for reputation improvement, image repositioning or brand building. Show less



PepsiCo

• United States
• Food and Beverage Services
• 700 & Above Employee

• Communications VP

  • Aug 2000 - Jul 2013

  Plano, Texas • Skilled and versatile senior executive with proven strategic Communications track record in domestic and international brand PR, media relations, employee communications, crisis management, government affairs, community affairs and consumer relations. • Counsel to senior leadership on Communication strategies that promote business objectives to media, employees and other stakeholders.

• VP of Communications, PepsiCo Europe

  • 2010 - 2012

  Geneva Area, Switzerland • Integrate a highly decentralized Communications team spread over 40+ countries and create a harmonized, Europe-wide Communications structure. • Build skills and capability within the European Public Relations teams and its agency network • Develop strategic external and internal Communications that support PepsiCo Europe’s growth initiatives and profit plans for foods and beverages. • Deliver an annual operating plan to reflect the diverse Communication needs across PepsiCo… Show more • Integrate a highly decentralized Communications team spread over 40+ countries and create a harmonized, Europe-wide Communications structure. • Build skills and capability within the European Public Relations teams and its agency network • Develop strategic external and internal Communications that support PepsiCo Europe’s growth initiatives and profit plans for foods and beverages. • Deliver an annual operating plan to reflect the diverse Communication needs across PepsiCo Europe, a business unit that generates more than $10BB in annual revenue and roughly 43,000 employees across 30 countries – from Russia, west to Portugal and from Greece, north to Norway. • Raise awareness of PepsiCo Europe, its family of brands and the company’s commitment to Performance with Purpose through employee, corporate, stakeholder, marketing and digital Communications.

• Vice President, Public Affairs- Frito-Lay North America

  • Oct 2005 - Feb 2010

  Plano, Texas • Built and oversaw a Public Relations/Communications staff of nine for PepsiCo’s Frito-Lay North America division – in the U.S. and Canada, employing 48,000 and generating $12BB in sales. • Established and maintained strong relationships with key media, with a focus on national business press and consumer media. • Led early adoption and use of digital and social media as part of Public Relations/Communications mix. • Led Public Relations planning for integrated brand marketing… Show more • Built and oversaw a Public Relations/Communications staff of nine for PepsiCo’s Frito-Lay North America division – in the U.S. and Canada, employing 48,000 and generating $12BB in sales. • Established and maintained strong relationships with key media, with a focus on national business press and consumer media. • Led early adoption and use of digital and social media as part of Public Relations/Communications mix. • Led Public Relations planning for integrated brand marketing efforts tied to the largest promotions and product introductions in Frito-Lay’s history: Lay’s with NuSun - $3BB brand; Doritos Crash the Super Bowl - $2BB brand; Tostitos Fiesta Bowl -- $1.5BB brand; and SunChips Made from the Sun.



PepsiCo

• Director, Public Relations

  • Aug 2000 - May 2003

  Purchase, NY and Plano, TX • Created and executed external and internal Communications strategies promoting and protecting international beverage operations, publicize brands, advance trade policies, and handle regulatory and quality initiatives in 170 countries. • Developed global Communications plan to announce worldwide joint-venture with Unilever for the Lipton tea brand. • Led the creation of Frito-Lay’s internal Communications function within Public Affairs. • Successfully led the Public Affairs… Show more • Created and executed external and internal Communications strategies promoting and protecting international beverage operations, publicize brands, advance trade policies, and handle regulatory and quality initiatives in 170 countries. • Developed global Communications plan to announce worldwide joint-venture with Unilever for the Lipton tea brand. • Led the creation of Frito-Lay’s internal Communications function within Public Affairs. • Successfully led the Public Affairs campaign to avoid a snack and beverage tax in Texas, Frito-Lay’s home state. Show less



Burger King

• United States
• Restaurants
• 700 & Above Employee

• PR Manager

  • Apr 1998 - Aug 2000