If you're the head of public relations at a multi-billion dollar company, and you don't know to say "n-word" instead of the actual word, that seems like grounds for firing with cause.
No, because he didn't use it in a press release. He used it in a meeting with (presumably) professional adults who should be able to understand intent.
He's the head of a department responsible for dealing with these sorts of fuck-ups. A PR professional should easily know "I probably shouldn't ever say n----r".
