Has comms lost its edge?

Is comms becoming a bit too corporate?

We still spot trouble before it hits. We still know what plays in the media, what won’t land with the public, and how to read the room better than anyone else on the ExCo. But when it comes to doing something bold and out there? When it comes to cutting through, not just smoothing over? Are we going a bit soft? Swapping instinct for process. Gut feel for governance. Provocation for pre-reads. Maybe — just maybe — all the time spent hanging around with our colleagues in Risk and Legal, we’re starting to become a little too risk-averse ourselves. So, are comms professionals becoming internal diplomats first and foremost — helpful, trusted, and entirely forgettable? Are we trying too hard to get along, not stand out? Corporate affairs needs edge. Courage. Creativity. Spark.

This episode is hosted by Apella Advisors partners Andrew Brown and Matt Young.

Andrew Brown; formerly Director of Communications and Public affairs at Ageas Insurance, Andrew has more than ten years’ experience leading the corporate affairs functions for global, listed, multifaceted firms across a range of regulated and unregulated sectors. He has considerable experience in issues, crisis and change management as well as reputation sentiment analysis and insight. Formerly Director of Communications at Drax Group plc and Group Corporate Affairs Director at Regus plc.

Matt Young has 25 years of experience across media relations, public affairs, regulatory development, employee engagement, brand development, competition and CSR. Group corporate affairs director at Lloyds Banking Group, part of the senior team which rescued the bank and rebuilt its reputation following the financial crisis. Formerly communications director at Santander UK and board member of the BBA. 

You can get in touch by emailing [email protected] and please consider leaving us a review. 

This podcast is produced by The Podcast Coach.