Comments on: Crisis PR Advice For Bailed-Out Boneheads

By: The Loviest of Linky Loves: Valentine’s Week

The Loviest of Linky Loves: Valentine’s Week — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 02:35:19 +0000

[...] Management:Crisis PR Advice for Bailed Out Boneheads (Kel Kelly)The Kim Family Search: An Insider’s Crisis Management Case Study (Johnathan [...]

By: rider waite

rider waite — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 08:34:58 +0000

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By: Kel

Kel — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 00:14:12 +0000

christopher, i love, love, love that insight and idea. the best news i heard today on the aig front was that a few employees had given back their bonus without being asked. i’m sure the public outrage had something to do with it, but i give them tremendous credit to proactively take a step in the direction where so many others failed to.

By: Christopher

Christopher — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 20:26:18 +0000

I was reading about the AIG bonus issue when I thought about this post. I agree with your opinion on the “Top Talent” matter. The harshest critic is the court of public opinion. To save face, not only should they rescind bonuses for ‘top talent,’ but they also should fire the folks in the ‘Special Financial Products’ section of AIG.

When Societe Generale had that large scandal back about a year ago where one of their traders lost billions making bad bets, SG fired him right away in order to start the process of restoring their credibility. The same should happen here (with AIG).

By: Kel

Kel — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 12:17:28 +0000

this is in response to comment #25. dude, i don’t know where your anger is coming from but it is misplaced. my company does pr for a loan modification company. i know the home foreclosure market inside-out-and-sideways. i already have the “pr light on the plight of Americans living in vegas.” spending money on a boondoggle trip to vegas is not going to help as many people in need as a well thought out housing plan for all americans who are in that rocky boat. there is a better use of taxpayer money to help the unfortunate people in vegas who are facing foreclosure. i don’t think obama’s plan is there yet, but it’s heading in the right direction.

By: Crisis PR Advice For Bailed-Out Boneheads

Crisis PR Advice For Bailed-Out Boneheads — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 05:48:34 +0000

All your ramblings only show that you are jealous that these people had an opportunity to go to Las Vegas on the companies dime. Las Vegas is one of the hardest hit cities from the home crisis. Why don’t you try telling the workers of Las Vegas why they should not get any of the money these companies are willing to spend in their town? Maybe some of the people facing foreclosure or the ones who have already lost their houses could have kept their jobs or houses if these companies followed through with their plans. Turn the PR light on the plight of Americans living in Las Vegas and that the journalists are snubbing their problems. Heck, they’re snubbing all Americans by ridiculing the fact that companies are willing to spend money which would reach the pockets of those needing it. Keep up your selfish beliefs and our country is doomed.

By: Free Crisis Management Advice for Greedy Bankers « Free PR Advice and Tips

Free Crisis Management Advice for Greedy Bankers « Free PR Advice and Tips — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 12:33:04 +0000

[...] is some sound cisis management advice from Kel Kelly’s blog – showing that the same holds true for the US bankers [...]

By: Kel

Kel — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 09:49:32 +0000

dave, i think you are probably right with your rock star theory. the thing with rock stars is most crash and burn at some point. it will be interesting to see if anyone has a “holy shit” moment of self-actualization where they realize their mistakes. long-term unemployment and a personal finance crisis can often be a catalyst for this…although i wouldn’t hold your breath.

By: Dave Baldwin

Dave Baldwin — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 04:05:48 +0000

Big Bankers are like Rock Stars who Know that everyone likes, I mean Loves, what they do…. and they are incapable of listening or coming to a ‘logical’ conclusion that doesn’t fly in orbit around them. While ‘humiliating’ them might seem like a good idea, I don’t think that works with people that don’t pay attention.

By: Kel

Kel — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 21:17:30 +0000

dara, you appear to have more wisdom as a student than these boneheads have as executives. rock on!

By: Dara

Dara — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 20:33:20 +0000

Kel,

Great post! I am currently in a PR Planning class and we are doing mock-cases on how to deal with crisis situations. Your tips are not only really funny, but also really helpful for me to understand exactly what to do in crisis situations. My advice for the these bankers is to lay low for awhile, quit spending unnecessary money that they don’t have, and hope the American people forgive them for their stupid ways.

By: Kel

Kel — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 19:54:27 +0000

christopher, thanks for the comment. i gotta tell you…i have met a thousand pr people…however, i have never met anyone who came to pr via the finance and economics route! moreover, i would bet my company that there is not another pr pro on the planet who has ever been a “theoretical math nerd.” lol! thanks for sharing your perspective. your background brings a unique dimension to the discussion.

By: Christopher

Christopher — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 15:56:51 +0000

I came to PR with a background in finance and economics. In college, I became a theoretical math nerd and learned to tolerate what I call “financial pornography.”

Considering the state of the economy, I think one of the most interesting points in my academic career was during a class called “Fixed Income Analysis,” where we discussed and dissected the “latest and greatest in financial derivatives.” I’ll never forget one session where we discussed the repackaging of mortgages into individual securities. Back in the early part of the decade, this was hailed as financial genius. Today, it’s the source of the financial crisis. For me, it was something I never really understood, and I think most of the banks that dealt with these instruments did not either.

I’ve worked in both financial media relations and IR, and what I’ve learned is that if you can’t explain your dealings in plain English to your stakeholders (customers, employees, shareholders, media, the gov’t), as you ultimately will have to do, then the business venture is not worth getting into.

The sum of all this is: PR is not just a communications “vehicle” but also a measurement tool on the worth of business practices in general.

By: “Uh-Oh, Now What Do I Do???”–Dealing With a Crisis. « PRogressing Forward

Wed, 18 Feb 2009 08:01:55 +0000

[...] read a blog post by Kel Kelly that gives great advice on how to deal with crisis situation. In her post, talks about an NBC [...]

By: Kel

Kel — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 16:05:57 +0000

andy, i’m really sorry to hear you work at one of those banks. i know there are tens of thousands of innocent employees who have been screwed over by a short list of greedy boneheads. and i agree with you — i think this advice should be leveraged by many sectors and government is a great example. i know it sounds extreme, but i was serious with my recommendations. people will always rise from the ashes when they take responsibility. i think their ascent would be faster if they bring their mea culpa to a place where no one has ever taken it before. sending good vibes to you and your fellow employees….

By: Andy

Andy — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 15:43:10 +0000

Kel- A great post. I work at one of those banks you just hammered. I’d love to see the guy who drove my bank into the ground actually apologize to the millions he screwed— customers, employees, and shareholders. Part of every employee retirement was in the worthless stock. No punishment too good for him.
But why stop with bank execs? With all the bullshit going on in DC, why not expect the same from our elected officials? There’s not enough bandwidth available for all the mea culpas we could expect from those assholes!
Happy Presidents Day indeed.

By: Kel

Kel — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 16:51:44 +0000

laura, yes it would be! i think this is the year of “hope.” maybe it will happen…and maybe monkeys will fly out of my ass…

By: Laura A

Laura A — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 15:17:01 +0000

Responsibility, change and open communication? From bankers? That would be interesting to see.

By: Kel

Kel — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 15:58:44 +0000

thanks deb! wondering what makes you and others think this is “one of my best.” let me know, so i can integrate in whatever magic appeared in this post.

By: Deb

Deb — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 12:16:14 +0000

Well said. I too agree this may be one of your best yet !!

By: Kel

Kel — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 16:46:44 +0000

shane, you never let me down! are you related to nancy grace? haha!

By: Shane

Shane — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 03:28:48 +0000

Talk is cheap. These clowns deserve a little street justice. Still cant believe someone hasnt popped Bernie Madoff in the schnoz yet. Public shunning is in order, whether it’s in Palm Beach or Nantucket, these evil people should be made aware in no uncertain terms of the absolute horror show they’ve perpetrated on mr and mrs main st. america. Im not advocating physical violence mind you, just some little humiliation: at the Y, the mall, soccer & little league games, restaurants.. anywhere these pariahs go, indignity and disdain shall follow. Public flogging? Hmmm…that’s a good idea. Then again, you did a pretty good job here Kel! Keep it up.

By: Kel

Kel — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 02:19:41 +0000

karen, your vegas comment is hysterical! and true. i do believe this economic mess will act as a catalyst for a culture shift. the good news is many, many people will learn humility for the first time in their lives.

By: Karen

Karen — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 00:30:35 +0000

So I guess what happens in Vegas doesn’t really stay in Vegas anymore….

True this is another ridiculous example of the elite and out of touch. I think we have a problem with our culture in this country–there is a persisting sense of entitlement that will take generations to wash away. We need a culture shift, in my opinion. Hopefully it will become unfashionable to be so wasteful, especially with other people’s money….in this case–ours.

By: Kel

Kel — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 00:13:23 +0000

julie, i believe you are referencing the proposal by senator claire mccaskill and senator bernard sanders. the two have proposed that no employee of an institution that receives money under the $700 billion federal bailout can receive more than $400,000 in total compensation until it pays the money back. the cap is the same compensation the prez of the us receives. last i heard that was still being proposed, but nothing has been passed.

By: julie

julie — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 23:22:47 +0000

what happened with the congress bill that executives using bail-out money can not make more than the president? $400k and no bonuses!…

By: Kel

Kel — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 23:02:25 +0000

amen sista’ tara! it will be a long, hard fall from the pillar these peeps put themselves on. i firmly believe no deed goes unnoticed, no debt goes unpaid.

By: Kel

Kel — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 22:59:46 +0000

meagan, thanks for the props. dare to dream…

By: Tara

Tara — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 21:34:32 +0000

This is the wake up call they need Kel! I think financial executives should be volunteering and picking up calls into NACA from families at risk of losing thier homes. It’s time for accountability. They are so padded from the reality of their actions.

By: Meagan

Meagan — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 17:42:44 +0000

This is one of my favorite blog posts ever. Imagine if they took this advice? I would imagine a large number of us would consider trusting a bank again, and switch our business over.