There’s a a new PR czar in town. He brings international experience as well as a new title — Yale’s chief communications officer — and a new flavor: Coca-Cola.
Thomas Mattia, who retired as a senior VP at Coke in March, will oversee the university’s Office of Public Affairs as of November 1, reporting to Secretary Linda Lorimer ’77JD. At Coca-Cola and in previous corporate stints at Ford and IBM, he lived and worked abroad, including in China — a crucial bit of background as Yale becomes an increasingly global university. (He’ll also serve as an ex officio member of this magazine’s board of directors.)
The appointment of a former corporate executive breaks a string of OPA directors from the world of politics. (Mattia’s predecessor, Helaine Klasky — who left in July — previously worked for the Clinton administration.)
Mattia also brings some balance in the soda department: Yale Corporation member Indra Nooya ’80MPPM is chairman and CEO of PepsiCo, and two university officers also bear the read-white-and-blue beverage company on their resumes.
