Total, brutal honesty in corporate leadership

It’s an unusual relationship, the one between the corporate affairs director and the CEO. Aside from perhaps the CFO, you get a lot more time with him or her than any other member of the leadership team. As Aviva CEO Amanda Blanc put it in our last episode, what she values above all else is total, brutal honesty. This can result in a difficult relationship if not managed well, so how do you balance the fact you’re there to support both the CEO and the business itself. 

How do you balance the needs of the CEO and the senior leadership team? How do you manage the CEO that wants to be the centre of attention or conversely is a bit of a shrinking violet? How do you advise with brutal honesty yet still maintain a positive, productive relationship? We’d love to hear what you think. Get in touch on social media or email [email protected]

The Little Questions podcast is presented by Matt Young and Andrew Brown.

Matt Young is an Apella founder partner with 25 years of experience in corporate affairs. He was 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.

Apella partner Andrew Brown is a former Director of Communications and Public Affairs at Ageas Insurance. He has more than ten years’ experience leading the corporate affairs functions for global firms across a range of regulated and unregulated sectors, developing considerable experience in issues, crisis and change management. Formerly Director of Communications at Drax Group plc and Group Corporate Affairs Director at Regus plc.