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Does a CEO Op-Ed Serve Any Good Purpose in a Crisis?

From our good friend and colleague, Tony Jaques, Director of Issue Outcomes Pty Ltd, in Australia… Does a CEO op-ed serve any good purpose in a crisis? Writing an op-ed to help frame an important issue is a well-established tool in the communications armoury. But when a CEO uses it to “explain” a corporate crisis, it […]


Speaking Out or Staying Silent: A Guide to Creating Communications Plans for Bars

By Nick Hansen, writing for The American Bar Association “If you can see it coming, it’s not a crisis,” said Bruce Hennes, CEO of Hennes Communications, to audience members at his 2024 Bar Leadership Institute workshop “Speaking Out or Strategic Silence? Organizational Approaches to Issuing Public Statements.”Hennes, along with (now former) Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association […]


The Skill Set That Got You Into the C-Suite Isn’t Necessarily the Skill Set You Need to Manage a Crisis

By Bruce Hennes, Hennes Communications It’s a simple fact: Controversies today are tried in the Court of Public Opinion more often than the Court of Law. News now breaks first on social media, with traditional media sweeping Twitter/X, Facebook and YouTube for leads. Whether your organization is immersed in crisis or dealing with a hot-button […]


Should We Put Out a Statement?

By Seth Chalmers, writing for The Stanford Social Innovation Review… “Should we put out a statement?” If you’re a nonprofit communications professional, you’ve heard that question many times, often the day after some major news event. Since the October 7 massacres in Israel and subsequent war in Gaza, many nonprofits have struggled to decide whether […]


Crisis Communications Lessons from the Tragic Assassination of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO

This article ran first in Crain’s Cleveland Business on December 19, 2024. By Bruce Hennes, CEO, Hennes Communications This article examines the crisis communications lessons from the tragic assassination of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO, Brian Thompson. It critiques the company’s public statements and explores the broader ethical and reputational challenges facing UnitedHealthcare in light of this tragedy […]


The Board’s Duty of Foresight in The Age of Polycrisis

By Jeff De Cagna, writing for The Center for Association Leadership… It is time for association boards to become fit for purpose and meet their successors’ expectations. In an article in the 2024 Associations Now Board Brief, I wrote: “Less than a year before the midway point of The Turbulent Twenties arrives, association boards must make a […]


Explainer: What is an Annual Report?

By Nicole Schuman for PRNews What is an Annual Report?  Annual reports tell the story of an organization’s financial achievements (and losses) over the fiscal year. They provide a clear, yet in-depth overview of operations, financial status and cost analysis for stakeholders (including shareholders, employees and investors). Components of an annual report can include: A […]


Hennes Communications Listed Among Top Advisors to the Legal Profession

Hennes Communications has been named among the top crisis PR firms in the U.S. by Chambers and Partners, the leading independent professional legal research company in the world. Hennes Communications is one of only 18 communication consulting firms included in the list for 2024. Bruce Hennes, chief executive officer, also received an individual ranking by […]


It’s Time Corporates Stopped Trying to be Political Players

From our good friend in Australia, Tony Jaques, at Issues Outcome.  Check out his website here. With universities tying themselves in knots over free speech and campus protests, and corporations struggling to decide what to say on high profile issues, it’s time to revisit whether management should speak up or shut up. Despite the headlines […]


Forget Storytelling. CEOs Must Learn Better Crisis Communication

Published by Tony Jaques for Managing Outcomes When responding to a crisis or a major issue, CEOs need to speak clearly, with authority and empathy. What then to make of the latest advice from consultants McKinsey, whose expert on “go-to-market and omnichannel strategy, agile sales and marketing transformation” proposes that Chief Executives should be their […]


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