Justin Häne

Principal Communications Consultant at JCH Communications

Oct 2025 – Present

I provide strategic advice on positioning, reputation management, and leadership communications to growing and transforming organizations in the technology and life sciences sectors.

Head of Communications at Apotex

2024

Built and operationalized a comprehensive reputation management strategy encompassing internal and external communications, brand strategy, issues management, ESG, and philanthropy for leading North American pharmaceutical company. Significantly scaled a high-performing global communications team, implemented a company-wide communications workflow, with ongoing management of a $3.5M budget. Providing counsel to executive leadership team on reputational issues including those related to regulatory matters, M&A, and the trade environment. Led the development and launch of a new corporate brand positioning and strategy aligned to the business strategy and entry into consumer health segments, including brand architecture, messaging, and employer value proposition. Providing ongoing cross-functional leadership with commercial and marketing teams in Canada, the United States and LATAM for brand activation and governance. Established company’s first sustainability function and ESG leadership; launched a new philanthropy strategy, including the Apotex Global Health Access Fund, and optimized medicine donation program. Enhanced employee engagement and leadership visibility through tailored internal communications, high-impact leadership forums, and a communications cadence aligned to strategic milestones.

Head of Communications, Portfolio Marketing and Brand at Softchoice

Jun 2022

I led a high performing corporate communications, portfolio marketing and brand team at Softchoice, one of North America's leading technology solutions and services organizations, having had accountability for: • External and employee communications • Marketing for our cloud, workplace technology, cybersecurity, and software asset management portfolios • Brand strategy • Design and French translation shared services

Head of Communications and Brand at Softchoice

Dec 2018

• Led communications and elevating engagement through change, including COVID-19, a complex business transformation and evolving internal expectations of the organization and leaders with respect to social issues • Led strategic and tactical IPO communications • Led brand transformation from inception through agency selection, discovery, brand strategy, visual identity development, implementation and ongoing governance • Rebuilt internal communications function and established external communications function • Aligned social impact strategy with business strategy • Selected by executive leadership team as a President’s Club winner in 2021 and Orange Code team award winner for the development of Softchoice's flagship CSR program • Led a team of 7

AVP, Global External Communications at Manulife

2017

• Leader of creative and collaborative integrated PR team, working across global departments to provide counsel, strategy and execution on corporate communications, reputation management, social media, and marketing communications. • Enhanced and protected Manulife’s reputation through management and resolution of issues related to regulatory matters, transformation, future business decisions, privacy/data protection, HR and employment issues. • Transformed PR approach, building relationships and securing stakeholder buy-in to pivot from silos to strategically and tactically aligned PR and marketing. Resulted in top-tier media coverage, measurable ROI and engagement with audiences through one consistent voice. • Assigned to manage corporate social media channels and lead CEO social media, exceeding industry benchmarks and receiving unsolicited coverage (here and here). • Built, mentored and coached team through two restructurings including two communications professionals transferred onto team. Developed skill set through two additional hires and managed team’s professional development plans. • Led a team of 5.

Reputation Management at FleishmanHillard

2014

• Served clients across various sectors, industries, and geographies. Assignments included leading a high-performing proactive PR newsroom, issues/crisis, litigation communications, M&A, public affairs and media training. • Spearheaded C-Suite, executive communications projects including speeches, op-eds, and media training, delivering on tight project timelines for CEOs in sectors including pharma, financial services, and venture capital. • Enhanced reputation and elevated brand of a B2B mid-market client; led a team of 4 that built a proactive media relations strategy, leveraging market research and insights to create media opportunities. • A key partner in designing and executing reputation management and public affairs campaigns including digital/social and advocacy strategies for clients in sectors including automotive and engineering.

Chief Of Staff at City of Toronto

2010

• Developed and implemented strategic direction on legislative and communications including speeches, media relations and motions. Managed a staff of 3. • Oversaw key files including government management, audit, and transit, developing partnerships with stakeholders including municipal, provincial, and federal political offices, community agencies, and non-profit organizations. • Successfully managed an election campaign and delivered a victory, defeating a 10-year incumbent.

Journalist at SRG SSR

2008

• Reported on political, regulatory, economic, and technology issues targeting a diverse international audience for Switzerland's public broadcaster. • Led communications as host and writer of weekly news and current affairs radio program/podcast. International assignments included banking legislation (Washington DC), international development (West Africa), multilateral migration agreements (Romania), and climate change (Bangladesh). • Commentator in international media on Swiss news and current events.

Programme / Communications Officer at International NGO in West Africa

Jun 2006

• Led internal and external communications for an NGO hospital comprising international and national staff/stakeholders, partnering with team on performance management and budget reports. • Co-wrote and edited a report commissioned by UNICEF and submitted to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child. • Produced content on maternal health for media, donors and internal use.

Certificate, Alternative Dispute Resolution at University of Windsor

Political Science at University of Waterloo

2001