Christian Flathman

Education

M.S., Northwestern University, Integrated Marketing Communications, 2018

B.A., Auburn University, Public Relations, 1997

About Me

Christian Flathman is an adjunct instructor in the public relations program in the School of Communication and Journalism at Auburn University.

He has spent more than 25 years working in corporate communications and marketing roles at companies including GE, ExxonMobil, Michelin, Gulfstream, and others. He currently leads strategic communications, advertising and marketing for L3Harris Technologies (NYSE: LHX ) and their Space & Airborne Systems division, one of the world’s largest defense contractors. He has also served as a consultant in a wide variety of industries.

While at GE, he served in a variety of corporate communications roles working with divisions including NBC, CNBC and MSNBC, GE Power Systems, GE Capital, GE Aircraft Engines, GE Lighting and GE Appliances to name a few. He helped manage one of the most widely publicized CEO transitions in the history of global business and helped the company earn its first Guinness Book of World Record. While at GE, the company was named the World’s Most Admired Company by Fortune Magazine. He then joined Michelin where he served as Public Relations Manager for North America leading the PR launch of numerous new products, multiple racing series, managed movie and music video product placements and the creation of one of the first influencer marketing programs.

He later led communications and marketing at the parent company of The Art Institutes and later Georgia Southern University where he led marketing and communications helping grow the university to more than 20,000 students, launched a new college of engineering and moved its athletic programs to the FBS/Division I level. He was then recruited to serve as spokesperson for Exxon Mobil Corporation and was later promoted to lead global motorsports and sponsorships where he managed the company’s relationship with Formula 1 Red Bull Racing, launched a new partnership with the NBA and WNBA including an endorsement deal with the Anthony Davis, Karl Anthony Towns and numerous other players. He was then asked to lead OEM marketing and the North America oil change business including working with OEMs like GM, Toyota, Porsche, Bentley and Volkswagen. He then created the company’s first influencer marketing program.

Following the loss of his mother and his father becoming ill, he joined Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation as Director of Public & Media Relations where he and his team helped launch the G400 and G800 business jet aircraft. He then joined Eve Air Mobility (NYSE: EVEX) where he helped take the newly NYSE-traded company to a market leading position with orders for 2,900 electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft with a backlog valued at $14.5B.

He earned his B.A. in Public Relations from Auburn University and a M.S. degree in Integrated Marketing Communications from Northwestern University. He is a former placekicker and punter and has served as a high school special teams coach at schools in Georgia, South Carolina, Virginia and Texas. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Georgia Southern University Foundation, Inc.

Areas of Expertise

Public Relations, Integrated Marketing Communications, Sports PR/Marketing, Social Media, Employee Communications, Crisis Communications, Investor Relations, Executive Communications, Strategy & Planning, Advertising, Media Buying, Agency Management, and Global Sponsorships (Formula 1, NASCAR, NBA, WNBA, G-League, NHRA, WRC, WEC, IMSA, USAC, and grassroots motorsports)

Courses Taught

PRCM 2400: Foundations of Public Relations