‘It’s good to talk’: why CEOs need to know how to speak to the press

The list of calamitous press interviews is a long one. X Corp’s CEO Linda Yaccarino crashed and burned in front of a live audience at the Ritz Carlton in California, while Persimmon Homes CEO Jeff Fairburn was put on the spot when asked about his ￡75m bonus by the BBC. Still more leaders have faced difficult questions after having an interview published in a magazine or newspaper.

Given the potential for things to go wrong, executives might question if speaking to the media is more of a risk than it’s worth. But when handled well, talking to journalists can offer the chance to grow profiles, showcase achievements, point out expertise and, where necessary, set the record straight.?

The key is to understand when to speak and on what topics, and to ensure communications align with the company’s strategy and culture. Read on to learn how you can build better relationships with the press.

Going for growth: how to create a business strategy for volatile?times

With the economy faltering, geopolitical crises on the rise and a protracted cost-of-living crisis, 2024 is fraught with difficulties. When faced with uncertainty, people’s natural reaction is often to hunker down and weather the storm. But for businesses, this response can bring greater challenges further down the?line.

Rebecca Homkes , director of the consultancy the Strategic Management Centre and author of Survive Reset Thrive, claims this mindset drives organisations to lurch between recession proofing and business as normal, meaning they never build the discipline or capability to be great at?either. Sam Forsdick spoke with her to learn how businesses can develop a growth mindset. Read more.

CEO succession: why internal hires are on the?rise

When it comes to CEO selection, boards are increasingly of the view that it’s better the devil you know. More than three-quarters (77%) of the 178 chief executives appointed at global, publicly listed companies last year were internal hires, up from 67% five years ago. Of the companies in the French CAC 40 index and Japan’s Nikkei 225 that replaced their CEO last year, all opted for people who were already working for the organisation.?

The data from executive search firm Russell Reynolds shows that there has been a steady increase in the number of businesses making appointments from their current C-suite, rather than looking externally when replacing their chief executive. The strength of this trend has led Steve Langton, managing director at Russell Reynolds Associates, to predict that there could soon be a time where almost all the world’s CEOs are promoted from?within. Read more.

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