Sonya McNair
SONYA MCNAIR is an accomplished executive corporate and media strategist who counsels Fortune 500 companies, nonprofit organizations, corporate executives, and high-profile clients on the implementation and sustaining of strategic initiatives, operations, and media affairs. She develops business strategies, manages crisis communications, and directs media outreach. Most recently, Sonya worked for CBS News in the capacity of senior vice president of Communications where she advised the chairman and its president on strategic communications and oversaw media and talent relations, as well as public affairs, for the entire news division, including CBS News broadcasts and platforms. Previously, Sonya was spokesperson and director of Public Relations for The New Yorker, where she directed press affairs and strategies for the magazine and The New Yorker Festival. Prior to that, she was vice president of Corporate Communications for Time Inc.’s Essence Communications and was responsible for ESSENCE magazine, ESSENCE Books, and The Essence Music Festival. She also designed the launch strategy for Time Inc.’s fashion forward magazine, Suede. Formerly, Sonya McNair held the position of vice president of Publicity and Corporate Communications for the Fox Broadcasting Company, where she oversaw East Coast media relations for the network, counseled the president of Sales, and served as a key liaison across all Newscorp business units. She also managed publicity campaigns for the successful launch of hit shows, such as American Idol and 24. She worked closely with major advertisers to communicate core positioning and marketing campaigns, directed special events, including Upfront presentations and press conferences, and served as a key liaison for the network across Newscorp’s business units.McNair spent sixteen years at ABC News and held several increasingly responsible positions at the network, including director of Media Relations and spokesperson for the network’s news division. Sonya lives in New York with her husband, Deryck.
