Franz Paasche

Franz Paasche oversees Verizon’s global communications, public policy, government relations, and responsible business.

The Corporate Affairs organization is responsible for building and strengthening the company’s reputation, elevating stakeholder engagement and connecting Verizon’s value proposition and purpose to people and communities the company cares for and serves.

Franz brings over three decades of leadership experience in public affairs, government relations, communications and corporate responsibility across both the private and public sectors. Before joining Verizon in November 2025, he served as EVP of Public Affairs and Communications at Columbia University. Previously, he was Chief Corporate Affairs Officer at PayPal, where he led global communications, public affairs, reputation management and social impact. Prior to that, he served as the Head of External Relations for North America at McKinsey & Company.

Earlier in his career, Franz held key leadership roles in communications, reputation risk management and law, including serving as a Senior Partner at Fleishman Hillard, a Managing Director of Clark & Weinstock, the General Counsel of Market Data Corporation and a litigator at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind and Garrison.

Corporate and charitable leadership

Franz’s contributions have been widely recognized — from being named to the Holmes Report’s Influence 100 multiple years in a row to receiving PR Professional of the Year honors from PRNews. He is a life member of the Council on Foreign Relations and serves on the boards of the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU Law School and JUST Capital.

Personal and educational background

Franz earned his Juris Doctor from Columbia University School of Law, where he was a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar, and graduated with high honors from Swarthmore College.