Westbound Communications’ Post

I had a gut feeling the Coutts story wasn't going away, and today the Daily Mail published the 40-page personal data document Farage requested from Coutts. You can read it here: https://lnkd.in/esazXHkv It is a MUST read for anyone in involved in the crisis communications/reputation world, whether it be comms pros, or wider exco/legal, compliance etc. My initial takeaways from it: Coutts acknowledge: - No legal or regulatory censure on Farage - Farage's accounts were commercially viable - Farage’s PEP status was recently downgraded from high to low status So that debunks a lot of speculation, and the narratives run by the FT and BBC that have been doing the rounds over the past couple of weeks. The decision was made weighing up Farage's views and values versus the bank’s. This is now an absolute nightmare for Coutts. And if you thought it couldn't get any worse, the document acknowledges on numerous occasions the substantial reputational risk of exiting Farage given his likely use of his platform to exercise his frustration and dissatisfaction. Moreover, I find the points of pages 8 and 9 really interesting. Farage was polite, professional and respectful during his dealings with Coutts. So Coutts had a controversial customer, but a customer who had not done anything illegal, wasn't sanctioned, and a lot of the speculative allegations against them were just that, speculation. And that customer was polite and professional. Clearly not a difficult customer. Why would you take the risk? I think Coutts miss judged this badly. Agree? Or disagree?

Deidra Johnson, CPF recently took part in this important analysis with industry peers and PRWeek. You can read all about how brands and agencies are responding to the war on DEI by using the link 👇 #PR #DEI #analysis

We need to discuss and reflect on how bias affects teams

Last week, we had the pleasure of hosting another engaging Meet & Greet session in collaboration with Edelman. With a group of senior marketing, brand, digital and PR professionals, we had a stimulating conversation centred around the findings of Edelman’s Trust Barometer, exploring the dynamic interplay between rapid innovation and societal trust issues. The session was nothing short of motivating with the discussions exploring key points such as: - Implementation is Key: Recognise that successful innovation goes beyond invention; it requires careful implementation and management to avoid backlash. - Integration of Science and Society: Scientists must effectively communicate their research, engage with the public, and leverage peer advocacy to enhance trust. - Empower Individuals: Give people control over how innovations affect them by listening to concerns, encouraging questions, and fostering open dialogue. As we reflect on the invaluable insights shared, we are reminded of the potential that is unlocked when leaders in our field unite to exchange ideas and perspectives. Thank you to Karlijn Marchildon for being a wonderful host as always! And to our attendees for contributing to this session from ABN AMRO Bank N.V., ING, innocent drinks, Vinted and YFood. Keen to join the conversation? Mark your calendars for our next session on June 6th! We'll be delving into the same crucial topics so make sure to register your interest to secure your spot at this link ➡️ https://lnkd.in/gNPu4kTp Explore the Edelman Trust Barometer here: https://lnkd.in/gbRXXQH2 #amsterdamevents #consumertrust #networking #marketinginsights

There is still time to book your ticket, link in in the post below. It will be a great discussion about agency and in-house and the complementary skills. #communications #pr #professionaldevelopment

Earlier this year, I had an opportunity to contribute to the development of this new #DEI resource by PR Council -- learning from and working with peers in the PR sector on how to create and sustain inclusive teams. The resource focuses on DEI in these focus areas:  --Stage I. Exploring a New #ClientRelationship: RFP/Pitch Process  --Stage II. Once the Contract is Signed: Onboarding, #recruiting and #staffing --Stage III. Engagement: A shared commitment to counteracting #bias Download the free guide and tune in to the webinar to learn more. #teambuilding #inclusivity #diversity #breakingbarriers

Not All Press Is Good Press This statement rings true; however, not all bad press impacts stakeholder behavior, but sometimes it does. Communications teams tend to live in a bubble, where they feel the slightest bit of negative news will majorly impact the business. This may or may not be accurate, but there are ways to gain insight before it's too late. Author Declan Wyatt, lays out a compelling reason to have a response plan mapped out and ready to go. The key element missing from this plan is the strategic continuous tracking of stakeholder perception and impact. Just because something happens doesn't mean it will change perception, nor is it always predictable in which direction opinion may sway. The most important thing you can do to determine an event's true impact on your most important stakeholder groups is to continuously track their perceptions. If done correctly, you will have real-time insights into the factors that affect their perceptions. These insights help support the decision-making process and guide the right strategic path through any event. #reputationmanagement #Stakeholdermanagement

Trust + Credibility = Influence, honor and a slew of  other good things, but how do you know what is earning and what is losing trust across industry sector landscapes? Among consumers, employees? One client wants to develop a new line of service, another wants to open a manufacturing facility in new market and yet another intends to launch a national service-chain. Here’s a tool which can help you, help your client determine trust on a boarder scale.   For years, I’ve admired Edelman, a global communications powerhouse since 1952. Their annual Edelman Trust Barometer is invaluable for a finger-on-the-pulse be it national or the global public court of opinion. More than 32,000 respondents across 28 countries weigh in on everything from economic anxieties, the mass-class divide, industry sectors, employer attractiveness and  key societal issues, The US Report is fascinating, useful, but also sobering. No surprise, polarization has grown tremendously, but Edelman also provides valuable tips on how to build #TRUST. That beautiful word, the currency for so much in our lives. #Reputation  #Trust #Influence #Growcredibility Merry Neitlich Bill Torres Mahyar Ghassemian Katina Holliday

As we navigate the current polycrisis, 73% of us globally wish we could slow down the pace of our lives. The implication for marketers when reaching out to some very overwhelmed people is twofold: 1. Can you avoid the temptation to complicate things? 2. How can you maximise the effectiveness of your outreach while still respecting your audience? Samira Brophy and Adam Sheridan explore how effective creativity requires empathy and fitting in, along with fresh creative experiences and ideas, using Ipsos testing data and Effie data to prove this: https://lnkd.in/etQhGkMi The latest instalment in our #DynamicEffectiveness series with Effie Worldwide features commentary from Andy Nairn, Hamish Cameron and case studies from: 🔍Yorkshire Tea and Lucky Generals 🔍Dell Technologies 🔍McDonald's and Leo Burnett 🔍ITV and adam&eveDDB 🔍Tesco and BBH Global 🔍The Mayor of London and Ogilvy UK

⚡New Ipsos Creative Excellence #misfits findings ⚡ When we published our Ipsos book MISFITS, we used Creative|Spark response data to identify three audience experiences that link to creativity and contribute to end business effects: Creative Experiences; Empathy & Fitting In, and Creative Ideas. Thanks to our partnership with Effie Worldwide we have since been able to extend the data sets we use to better understand how these experiences and creativity contribute to business effects. In this latest Effie UK and Ipsos UK report, The Empathy Gap and How to Bridge It, we applied the #misfit experiences to #effie award entrants and identified further evidence that a good quality audience experience matters to end business outcomes. And that #empathy has the strongest link to Gold awards, signalling the value of the art of good quality planning and strategy. Thanks to Effie UK for their partnership in helping to bring these findings to the industry and particular thanks to Samira Brophy for bringing your unique perspective to the value of the #misfits experiences, and helping us to take a further step in understanding what creativity means in advertising and how it can spark brand growth. A special thanks also to the Ipsos team who helped to code the award entries. Eleanor Thornton-Firkin, Rachel Rodgers, Shelley Yang, Veronica Krysa, Morgan Beagle, Emily (Gardner) Powers, Elizabeth Lamping-Diamond, Megan Franklin, MBA, Margaux Curless, Claudia Oberlin. We would not have got to these findings without your diligence and advertising research expertise. More detailed findings will be available in the New Year. Please reach out to me, Samira Brophy or your Ipsos Creative Excellence contact if you would like to find out more. Shaun Dix, Arnaud Debia, Aurelie Jacquemin, Louise Harrison, Lucy Burnham, Kelly Beaver MBE #effectiveness #creativity