Bates collaborates with Burson-Marsteller India to offer enhanced Crisis Management capability
View(s):Bates Strategic Alliance’s PR arm Strategic Alliance PR has reached out to their Burson-Marsteller network to enhance their own unmatched local experience with collaboration from Genesis Burson-Marsteller, India’s leading public relations and public affairs consultancy.
This, the agency said in an announcement, was in response to increased interest and requests from Sri Lanka’s corporate sector for professional expertise in being trained and prepared to handle contentious issues and unforeseen crises, as well as support in handling communications and the media at times of crisis,
Sheena Sharma, Lead Trainer in issues and crisis preparedness and Chief Officer of Genesis Burson-Marsteller’s media training arm was invited by Strategic Alliance PR, Exclusive Affiliate of global PR giant Burson-Marsteller, to address key local corporates on being prepared for crises and how to manage it through successful communications.
Attending the event were Board Directors, CEOs and Senior Management from some of Sri Lanka’s leading corporates, who have perceived the importance of crisis preparedness and the need to equip their senior management with suitable know-how and media communications.
Ms. Sharma said, “Crises are being reported in the mainstream press with citizen responses shared virally on social media on a daily basis and at times against the most revered brands. The social media kick-in is fast and furious and the shelf life of a crisis has changed from just a few days and to now weeks and months”.
She reiterated the need to communicate proactively with confidence and transparency in times of crisis minimising damage to a corporate’s reputation. Commenting on the reasons for preparedness Ms. Sharma said, “One needs to be prepared not only because of the changes caused on account of technology but also a raft of other drivers that include customer expectations and also an increased number of influencers.”