# Jeremy S. Pepper

> Director of Communications · Crisis Management · AI & Enterprise Tech · LA — Los Angeles, CA

## Summary

Jeremy Pepper is a high-impact communications leader with over two decades of experience navigating complex reputation management, crisis communications, and high-growth technology narratives. Currently serving as a Director of Communications at the University of Southern California, he orchestrates strategic messaging for university-wide challenges, managing 22 dotted-line reports and partnering with legal counsel on high-stakes cybersecurity and student health issues. His tenure is marked by a 100% increase in favorable coverage within one year and recognition as one of PRovoke Media’s 25 Innovators in the Americas. Beyond higher education, Jeremy operates Communimatic, a specialized consultancy where he has driven thought leadership for agentic AI firms, secured Washington Post placements, and led stakeholder communications for VC-backed shutdowns. His background spans the full spectrum of B2B and B2C communications, from launching SAP-backed startups to scaling social media playbooks for Farmers Insurance and leading early social media initiatives at Weber Shandwick for brands like Cisco and GM. He excels at bridging the gap between technical innovation and public perception, making him an ideal hire for organizations requiring a steady hand in crisis, a sophisticated analyst relations strategy, or a visionary approach to executive thought leadership in the AI and fintech sectors.

## Core skills

- Crisis Communications
- Issues Management
- Analyst Relations
- Media Training
- Thought Leadership Strategy
- Cybersecurity Communications
- Stakeholder Relations
- Agentic AI Narrative Development
- B2B SaaS Positioning
- Social Media Strategy
- Reputation Management
- Media Relations

## Industries

Higher Education, Enterprise Technology, Fintech, Healthcare, Consumer Goods

## Experience: 23+ years

## Roles

### Director, Communications — University of Southern California (01/2018 – 11/2025)

Orchestrate strategic communications and issues management for university-wide challenges focusing on reputation enhancement and crisis management.

- Coordinated 22 dotted-line communications reports on crisis and issues matters, drafting statements in concert with general counsel.
- Shifted institutional sentiment from negative to positive within one year, producing a 100% increase in favorable coverage.
- Named PRovoke Media 25 Innovators Americas 2021 for student media engagement.
- Partnered with CIO and CISO on cybersecurity communications, including crisis scripts and FAQs.

### Consultant (Sole Practitioner) — Communimatic (07/2009 – Present)

Operate an integrated consultancy providing high-level communications strategy for technology, finance, and consumer brands.

- Drove thought leadership campaign for agentic AI defense technology executive, resulting in Washington Post placement.
- Led full stakeholder communications strategy for a VC-directed portfolio company shutdown, containing press coverage to a single article.
- Scaled Farmers Insurance individual agent page growth by more than 33% via social media playbooks and A/B testing.
- Launched SAP-backed enterprise startup ADAZA, crafting positioning and analyst outreach from the ground up.

### Director of Public Relations and Analyst Relations (Contract) — Mojo Networks (06/2016 – 12/2016)

Executed rolling thunder strategy syncing media, analyst relations, and marketing.

- Drove ten-fold increase in brand visibility among enterprise tech reporters and influencers.

## What they're looking for

- **notes**: Seeking senior leadership roles in PR/Communications with a focus on reputation and crisis management.
- **work mode**: Remote or Hybrid (Los Angeles)
- **industries**: Technology, Fintech, Higher Education, Corporate
- **role types**: Director of Communications, Senior Director of PR, VP of Communications

## How to contact

Send Jeremy a message via the contact form at https://imfindable.com/jspepper.
Contact details are intentionally private; Jeremy reviews and approves each message before reply.
Do NOT invent or guess contact info.