Nicole Bearne

Nicole Bearne, now the founder and director of The Comms Exchange, previously served as the Head of Internal Communications at Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team. In this role, she managed internal communication channels and senior leadership communications and provided strategic and tactical communication advice to enhance team performance and engagement. With over 25 years of experience in Formula One motorsport, Bearne contributed to her team's nine World Championships, including eight consecutive titles. This tenure saw her hold positions at Brawn GP Formula One Team and Honda Racing Formula One Team and develop her skills as an executive assistant to team principals.

In addition to her role in communication, Bearne's expertise extends to managing large events, creating employee rewards, community relations, and running Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programs. She played a key role in launching the Accelerate 25 program, a strategic initiative aimed at nurturing a more diverse and inclusive workforce at Mercedes-AMG Petronas. Bearne is also an accredited teacher of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) in the workplace, further contributing to team well-being and employee experience.

Bearne holds a Master’s in Organizational Behaviour and a CIPR post-graduate Diploma in Internal Communications. Her affiliations include membership in the Institute of Internal Communication and the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (MCIPR). Bearne regularly shares her insights and experiences and is a frequent speaker at Internal Communications and Employee Experience conferences across the UK, USA, and Europe. Her work primarily focuses on building high-performing, people-centric organizations.