When organizations need to communicate with clarity under pressure, Thom Fladung brings a perspective few crisis communications professionals can match.
Individually ranked by Chambers and Partners in the 2026 Crisis & Risk Management Guide, Thom is recognized among the nation’s leading crisis communications advisors. Drawing on more than three decades of newsroom leadership and nearly a decade of advising organizations through high-profile crises, he helps executives, boards, legal counsel, and leadership teams navigate situations where sound judgment, strategic messaging, and public trust are essential.
As Chief Counselor for AKCG Crisis Communications Practice, Thom provides strategic counsel on crisis communications, issues management, reputation management, litigation communications, executive communications, media relations, crisis planning, and spokesperson preparation. Whether responding to a fast-moving crisis or helping organizations prepare before one occurs, Thom is known for bringing calm, clarity, and practical solutions to complex communications challenges.
What distinguishes Thom is his ability to see a story from every angle before it becomes tomorrow’s headline.
Before joining Hennes Communications in 2016, what is now Hennes Communications Division, AKCG, Thom spent 33 years in journalism, serving as Managing Editor and Editor at several of the nation’s largest newspapers. Leading newsrooms through breaking news gave him firsthand insight into how reporters gather information, evaluate credibility, verify facts, and determine which stories capture public attention. Today, he applies those same instincts to help organizations communicate effectively when every word matters.
His newsroom background gives clients a unique advantage. Thom understands not only how organizations should communicate during a crisis, but also how journalists think, the questions they are likely to ask, how deadlines influence reporting, and how public narratives develop across traditional and digital media. That perspective enables leaders to respond strategically, communicate with confidence, and maintain credibility during even the most challenging situations.
Known for his thoughtful counsel and steady leadership, Thom frequently develops executive messaging, facilitates media training, leads crisis simulations, and helps organizations build crisis communications plans that prepare leaders long before issues arise. He believes the strongest reputations are built through preparation, transparency, and consistent communication, enabling organizations to earn and maintain stakeholder trust when challenges occur.
A graduate of the University of Dayton, Thom grew up in Canton, Ohio, before pursuing a journalism career that took him across the country in search of the next great story. Today, he and his wife, Jeanette, call the Cleveland area home, where they enjoy spending time with their two granddaughters. And while his career has taught him to be realistic under pressure, Thom remains optimistic that Cleveland will once again celebrate a World Series championship.
