Today we have lost one of the greats.
Richie Benaud was not boastful, but he could boast one of the most impressive cricketing records. The then Australian record of 248 test wickets. A three-time Ashes winning captain. Skipper in the 1961 first ever tied Test. Continue reading ““Think fast. Talk slow.” Farewell Richie Benaud”
There’s been an awful lot said about the role and responsibility of business in society, and whether or how big business should recover the trust it once had with the public, or in many cases its customers. Continue reading “$200,000 of sage comms advice”
Rarely do you leave a discussion on energy policy with a clearer understanding of what’s going on than you started with, but that’s what happened last Thursday at an excellent talk by Oxford economics Professor Dieter Helm at the Social Market Foundation think tank. Continue reading “Energy is too important to be left to the politicians”
This first appeared in CorpComms, November/December 2013
Sorry shouldn’t be the last thing you say in a crisis
1. Don’t be afraid of saying sorry. In recent years we’ve seen a near epidemic of corporate and institutional scandals. It has been remarkable how difficult it has been for businesses simply to say they are sorry when things go awry. If things go wrong, don’t be afraid of apologising Continue reading “Apologies matter”
This first ran in the Huffington Post.
The payday lenders are front and central once again. After his assault on the energy companies Ed Miliband has switched his attention to another group with few friends and declared tax war on payday lenders.
Wonga is at times a little like an embarrassing relative. It can make us cringe but secretly perhaps we’re all glad it’s there. Continue reading “The payday lenders we love to hate”
Two-minute summary
From horse meat to tax evasion to energy price rises, consumer trust in corporate institutions has been rocked by scandal after scandal. Continue reading “Brands in the spotlight: managing reputation in the face of greater consumer accountability”
This blog first appeared in Real Business
The question of City bonuses will always be contentious but the facts remain that economics show us that price restraints don’t work. A one-year bonus cap may not trigger a brain drain, but over a prolonged period people are likely to go where the money is, and the markets that can attract the talent will reap the benefits. Continue reading “Time for business to engage its critics”
Far away in the Pacific island of Samoa a fascinating experiment in the nudge theory of behaviour change is unfolding. The national airline, Samoa Air, has decided to charge passengers by the kilo to fly. Continue reading “Pay by weight to fly: the thin edge of the wedge in behaviour change?”
This first ran here in the Huffington Post.
Not many industries can resist change for 50 years and still keep growing, so it is was a pleasant surprise recently that retail sales growth has returned.
Perhaps less surprising was last week’s news that only seven per cent of an innovation fund set up to help the high street modernise has been taken up. Continue reading “The High Street is looking over the wrong shoulder”
This first ran here in the Huffington Post.
The news broke this week that that water buffalo has been found in South African meat. It is pretty clear that what we think we are eating is never what it seems, and perhaps it never has been. Continue reading “Food contamination: why everyone will get away with it”
In December 2012, the question of what global businesses should pay in local tax burst onto our screens.
UK Uncut went on the offensive. Starbucks misread the public mood.
The House of Commons Public Accounts Committee sharpened its knives.
This is how the BBC News reported the stand off.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAsXzMsa7YE
Research among heads of corporate communications shows that PR has overtaken advertising in delivering big ideas and creativity. Continue reading “Communications overtakes advertising in delivering creativity”
Corbet Communications 