Dewey Defeats Truman: As apolitical and nonpartisan as this publication chooses to be, we’d be remiss to avoid mentioning the week’s top story. So much of Donald Trump’s successful campaign seems to have ignored traditional PR. John Roderick noted Trump’s success might signal the end of the public apology, a PR staple, in these pages Oct. 17; earlier we noted how Trump and Bernie Sanders were dispensing with the tenets of traditional media relations in their use of body language (March 14). To some the election results signal a reduction in status for other pieces in PR’s tool kit, including media and polling/research, which both got things very wrong. The president-elect also campaigned furiously against traditional media and greatly favored social media, as we also noted. The campaign also pushed brands and CEOs, traditionally counseled by PR to avoid politics, into the political arena (Nov. 7). Based on what we saw last week from the CEO of Starbucks and those of other brands, this move toward politics by brands might be a true legacy of this campaign.
Famously Trump was an army of one during the campaign. 200+ years of history says he won’t be as president. With a majority in both houses, a luxury Ronald Reagan didn’t inherit, it’s possible Trump will unleash a Reagan revolution on steroids. If so, he’ll need help from communicators, pollsters and researchers; he’s already made overtures to the press. We’re betting communications and PR aren’t dead. Not yet.
Can’t Hear You: Before you become too heady about communications’ swath of influence, note the sobering findings of a Nov. 9 APCO Worldwide survey of 100+ senior communicators at B2B and consumer brands. Bottom line: communicators “usually don’t feel heard” by the CEO, the APCO report concludes. On the up side, 89% said they “readily have direct access” to the CEO, although only 52% report directly to the CEO. A paltry 29% of CCOs said they are a key business advisor to their CEO. Other findings: 47% say communications is “highly integrated” throughout their organization; 62% said increased importance in social media has made communications more relevant.
Grey Group Asia Pacific, Mid East, Africa
People: Koch Industries’ managing director for corporate communications and external affairs Ken Spain has joined CGCN Group. Prior to Koch, Spain was at the American Investment Council and the National Republican Congressional Committee. – Finn Partners named Mina Volovitch head of its Paris office and senior partner in the agency’s global health practice. Volovitch’s two-plus decades in health communications includes stints at Bristol Myers-Squibb, Merck, Novartis and Roche among others. – Jori Arancio was named SVP of communications at ABC Entertainmentand ABC Studios. A Disney employee since 1988, she will report to Kevin Brockman, EVP, global communications, Disney-ABC Television Group. Arancio was part of the senior executive team that rebranded ABC Family as Freeform in January. – Grey Group Asia Pacific said chairman/CEO Nirvik Singh will take on the additional role of chairman/CEO for Grey Group’s Middle East and Africa region. – ICR named Scott Tangney managing director, focusing on corporate, financial and professional services as well as building materials and homebuilders. Prior to joining ICR, Tangney was head of the financial and professional services division at Makovsky for a decade. – Courtney Cochran was named senior manager of media relations at the American Diabetes Association. Cochran previously ran communications for Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ). – Phil Andrews was named president of the Black Public Relations Society-New York. The immediate past president is Kisha Barton. Andrews is president of the Long Island African American Chamber of Commerce and had a long career in law enforcement. – Princess Cruises appointed Negin Kamali director of public relations. Kamali was an executive director in the LA office of Golin PR. – Idea Hall named Rachel Svoboda VP, business development, a new position. Svoboda is president of the American Advertising Federation of Orange County. – Ignition Creative named Kate Talbot director of PR. Prior to Ignition, Talbot’s career spanned 11 years across global markets.
and Nell McCormack Abom
PR’s Holiday Homerun: With the holidays near, we’ll spotlight examples of PR doing good. There are few examples better than the Central PA PRSA chapter’s best overall PR award Nov. 10 to Lucy Gnazzo (LMGnazzo Productions) and Nell McCormack Abom (Nell McCormack Abom Communications) for their work with the Red Land Little League team, the 2015 U.S. World Series champs. Yes, Gnazzo and Abom helped coordinate 100 personal appearances for the team, but what clinches a mention here was their work in helping the squad raise $31,000+ for kids with cancer. No doubt the team knows a lot about baseball, but its players also got a life lesson.