The prestigious Arthur W. Page Society has officially launched the Future Leaders Experience, a two-year program to prepare high-potential communications execs to assume the chief communications officer (CCO) role at a major corporation.

The program's inaugural class of 20 - which participated in the first of six learning sessions Feb. 23-Feb. 25 at the office of Chicago-based strategy execution firm Gagen MacDonald, consisted of communications leaders from numerous companies across the United States, including Chevron, Federal Express, IBM, Johnson & Johnson and The Home Depot.

The Future Leaders Experience is being heralded as the first of its kind in providing long-term, comprehensive strategic training, networking and leadership development to prepare potential CCOs for a seat at the executive leadership table. Participants, who are selected by the Page Society from nominations submitted by its members, will attend six extended learnings sessions over the next two years, as well as ongoing teleconference and network events.

The program's first session included leadership expert Jay Conger, author of 12 books on leadership, including "Winning 'Em Over: A New Model for Management in the Age of Persuasion." Conger also is chair of leadership studies at Claremont McKenna College in California, senior research scientist for the Center for Effective Organizations at the University of Southern California and visiting professor of organizational behavior at the London Business School.

Maril MacDonald, president of the Page Society, also discussed the changing landscape of corporate communications and the strategic role necessary for leaders to succeed, as outlined by the "Authentic Enterprise" white paper issued by the Page Society in 2007.

The Arthur W. Page Society, a professional association for senior public relations and corporate communications executives, consists primarily of chief communications officers of Fortune 500 corporations, the CEOs of the world's largest public relations agencies and leading academics from the nation's top business and communications schools. The Page Society has strict membership-selection criteria, and consequently, has attracted the best of the industry.

"The mission of the Arthur W. Page Society is to strengthen and enhance the role of the chief communications officer through continuous learning," said Tom Martin, co-chair of the Future Leaders Task Force and executive-in-residence at the College of Charleston (S.C). "The Future Leaders Experience will pay great dividends in this pursuit. Not only does it help us create a community of talented budding executives in our field, but it provides them a vital opportunity to become steeped in the theories and competencies that will define future communications success."

Gagen MacDonald, which served as sponsor of the program's first session, worked with the participants to develop insights around increasing their effectiveness in corporate and executive leadership and to create a plan for personal leadership development.

"The Future Leaders Experience is a down payment on closing a pressing gap in our field," said Matt Gonring, co-chair of the Future Leaders Task Force and consultant at Gagen MacDonald. "As current leaders, it is incumbent on us at the Page Society to develop leadership's next wave. Gagen MacDonald was thrilled to lend our services and facilities for this exciting occasion."

About the Arthur W. Page Society
The Arthur W. Page Society is a select membership organization composed primarily of the chief communications officers (CCOs) of the world's top multinational corporations, and the CEOs of the world's largest public relations agencies. The organization's members also include academics from the leading business and communications schools. The Page Society is dedicated to strengthening the management policy role of chief communications officers. For more information please visit http://www.awpagesociety.com.

For more information contact:

Anuneha Mewawalla
212.400.7959 ext. 102
amewawalla@awpagesociety.com

Courtney Schacht
212.614.4873
Courtney.schacht@bm.com