PR & Communications News South Africa

Managing that crisis

The Crisis Communications Consultancy has been launched in Johannesburg to assist companies in preparing for and managing the worst imaginable scenarios. Recent news events have clearly shown that many companies are not ready to manage situations that pose a threat to their survival.

By identifying areas in which problems could cripple a business and developing defensive strategies and tactics to withstand them, the Crisis Communications Consultancy will counsel organisations how to quickly and pre-emptively act to minimise the damage a PR crisis can cause.

Evan Bloom, MD of the Crisis Communications Consultancy, says: "All senior managers hope that they never have to tackle a crisis that threatens the future of their company. Without effective crisis planning, a business can suffer serious damage to its reputation, brand and revenues - or even bankruptcy - if it is not ready. Good corporate governance demands executives ensure their companies are prepared to handle any situation."

Research by US-based ICM for the period of 2004 shows that:
81% of all crises have their roots inside a company;
53% are caused by management;
28% are caused by employees; and
only 19% are caused by external sources.

With an MA in communications and a specialisation in public relations and crisis management, Bloom has honed his skills in the USA and UK. He has provided crisis planning and management assistance to companies in the airline, mining, retail, IT, financial services and FMCG industries. For more information, visit www.crisiscomms.com.

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