Paul MacKenzie-Cummins

From team dynamics to bad attitudes, these are 13 real reasons why you’re not getting a payrise People may often hear that a promotion isn’t possible due to budgets, but in some cases, there’s a lot more to the story than just the bottom line.

Great to be quoted in this career advice piece for STYLIST magazine - a focus on why a promotion is not always as forthcoming as people might wish for it to be: www.stylist.co.uk/life/careers...

“Trump says,” but have Israel and Hamas? With the Nobel Peace Prize judges deciding this year’s reecipient today I cannot help but wonder if Trump has called this now to boost his chances of receiving the award he is so desperate to get his hands on. Is he that crass…

Sorry: The five-letter word that is so hard to say Learn the four non-negotiable steps for a successful crisis apology. See how Zara, Next, and M&S handled recent scandals and which strategy worked.

Love this from our Annie: "... too often, organisations default to hollow ‘non-apologies,’ which express regret that customers are upset, rather than taking responsibility for the negative action itself." Great perspective on effective crisis comms management: www.clearlypr.co.uk/insights/sor...

Overrated: Why Tylenol vs. Trump is a flawed example of crisis comms Both the media and PR industry have hailed the response to President Trump's damaging comments as being a gold standard approach to crisis comms. It isn't.

Latest audio (with transcript) on Substack, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts: Overrated: Why Tylenol vs. Trump is a flawed example of crisis comms and should not be hailed as being a gold standard approach to crisis comms. It isn't. Listen now (3 mins): breakingbrand.substack.com/p/overrated-...

No way back: Fergie's ferocious fall from grace seals reputation fate As reputations go, the Duchess of York's was one of the most enduring. But 40 years in the public domain have come to an end because of misplaced ethics and a selfish focus on personal advancement.

[LISTEN on Substack] As reputations go, Sarah, the Duchess of York's was one of the most enduring. But 40 years in the public domain have come to an end because of misplaced ethics and a selfish focus on personal advancement: breakingbrand.substack.com/p/no-way-bac...

Mitchum found itself in an almighty reputation storm of its own making last week. Our Annie takes us through what happened, how the brand reacted, and why the whole sorry affair blew up in Mitchum's face: www.clearlypr.co.uk/insights/wha...

When rebranding prompts rewiring of reputation: A lesson in IP, irony, and oversight A specialist IP law firm has been accused of plagiarising tennis superstar Serena Williams' jewellery brand logo. They deny it, but will anyone buy it?

A specialist IP law firm has been accused of plagiarising tennis superstar Serena Williams' jewellery brand logo. They deny it, but will anyone buy it? prpaul.substack.com/p/when-rebra...

Branding experts reveal: Where did it all go wrong for Costa? Costa 's reign as the stalwart British coffeeshop appears to be wobbling as experts say the 'predictable, bland and outdated' brand is losing customers to trendy artisanal cafes.

Great to be quoted extensively in the Daily Mail today. Talking about how Costa Coffee has failed to create the brand experience that customers are increasingly seeking and finding in smaller independents: www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/artic...

‘We’re being ultra-cautious on recruitment’ – agency bosses on hiring PR agency leaders give their verdict on the state of the recruitment market and their approach to hiring.

Good to be quoted in the latest PRWeek focus on hiring within the PR sector. Feeling rather fortunate to be recruiting once again given the challenges our industry is facing: www.prweek.co.uk/article/1930...

Scrolling ‘raises risk of haemorrhoids more than straining’ While anecdotal evidence had linked smartphone use on the toilet with an increased risk of piles, few studies had explored this in detail until now

You will almost certainly think twice about taking your phone with you to the loo after reading this: Scrolling ‘raises risk of haemorrhoids more than straining’.

www.thetimes.com/article/ff11...

Looking forward to going to this tomorrow - @BCorpUK 's B Social Breakfast at the British Library: www.tickettailor.com/events/blabu...

The high-wire reputation act: Why high-profile struggling businesses need PR The challenge for struggling businesses is how to protect their reputation and maintain customer trust and loyalty until the storm passes.

Several UK high street retailers are facing serious financial difficulties. The role PR plays during such testing times is often undervalued yet is critical to maximising brand equity and retaining customer loyalty.

www.clearlypr.co.uk/insights/the...

Sanex: Intentional or unintentional - the damage is done, forgiveness will not be forthcoming Four minutes on why the Sanex shower gel ad ban was right and how brands can avoid similar missteps.

New podcast: Sanex: Intentional or unintentional - the damage is done, forgiveness will not be forthcoming (3mins 56 secs... just enough time to make a cuppa and sip while listening!). Click here: prpaul.substack.com/p/sanex-inte...

Sanex has joined the long list of major brands facing ad bans for campaigns that are clearly insensitive and lack both cultural and emotional intelligence. Here are the lessons that brands need to adhere, or risk irreparable reputational damage: www.clearlypr.co.uk/insights/san...

Cut, paste, apologise: Swatch and the global epidemic of tone-deaf branding Swatch faces reputation crisis with ad campaign aimed at China market showing 'slanted eyes' model. Thoughtless, tone-deaf, and stupid? Yes. Costly, too.

Feels like this is a post I could very easily schedule to be shared on repeat, such is the prevalence of brands publicly apologising after an expensive ad or PR campaign draws significant backlash from customers. Today’s guilty party: Swatch www.clearlypr.co.uk/insights/cut...

If you are banging your head against the wall because your current purpose-led messaging isn’t resonating with customers, chances are you are prioritising the wrong message: www.clearlypr.co.uk/insights/gre...

In just four years, GB News has risen to become the UK’s most-watched TV news channel - overtaking BBC News and Sky News. This is a huge turning point for news broadcasting and a rocket up the proverbial for the PR industry: www.clearlypr.co.uk/insights/gb-...

Latest Substack:

prpaul.substack.com/p/zara-lates...

Your audience is bored of what you're saying Just as you wouldn't dominate a conversation at a dinner party by talking only about yourself, you shouldn't do so in your PR and branding efforts.

Still seeing organisations banging the self-promotional drum on social media to woo new customers. But is it working? When we focus the conversation on ourselves and not on the needs of those we want to do business with, we have lost. More on this: www.clearlypr.co.uk/insights/you...

The Salt Path: trail of deceit leaving reputations in tatters How an encounter with a café owner has sparked a need for businesses and brands to better understand how to manage reputational concerns when they are publicly wronged.

Latest musings on Substack: prpaul.substack.com/p/the-salt-p...

What GB News powering past BBC and Sky means for storytelling businesses and brand The rise and rise of GB News is not just a win for a four-year-old start-up – it is the biggest rocket up the backside for anyone with responsibility for communicating their news stories to the media.

Latest thoughts on Substack: The rise of GB News is not just a win for a four-year-old start-up – it is the biggest rocket up the backside for anyone with responsibility for communicating their news stories to the media. Read on (if you want to): prpaul.substack.com/p/what-gb-ne...

Why selling value, not just services, is the key to winning over buyers Adding value is about sharing rather than selling, but what does this look like in practice and what are the benefits for businesses focusing on 'value'?

A short post revealing why a wee shift in how businesses and brands sell themselves might be needed if they are not clearly communicating the 'value' element to their customers. Trust me, it matters: www.clearlypr.co.uk/insights/why...

M&S ad campaign misfires with "unhealthily thin" ban Reputation isn’t just what you say- it’s what people feel when they see your brand.

M&S's reputation under fire again, only this time it is of their own making according to the ASA: prpaul.substack.com/p/m-and-s-ad...

How to deliver an effective mental health campaign PA Media

Great to have the chance to share with the Press Association details of how the Clearly team orchestrated a PR campaign that the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak described as "the biggest suicide prevention initiative we've ever seen" in the UK: pa.media/pa-mediapoin...

So, you’re a disgraced CEO. What now? Andy Byron, the chief executive of the AI company Astronomer, was caught out in an embrace with his head of HR. This is how he could salvage his reputation

The Times (US) has written an interesting piece on the Andy Byron incident and shared some insights into hoe he might restore his reputation and rebuild his career: www.thetimes.com/us/news-toda...

While The Daily Mail and The S*n front pages today give priority to the far right anti-asylum demonstrators, The Guardian and Daily Express lead with incredibly powerful images and headlines: www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

This is a top story on The Times website today. I am baffled as to how the individual’s educational background bears any relevance to his protest. His actions are the story, not his schooling.

Astonished at the volume of senior people poking fun at the CEO and HR leader in THAT video filmed at a Coldplay concert. If you're one of them my advice is to stop NOW: you're causing needless damage to your reputation and your business.

Southern Water boss doubles salary whilst debt piles up and company hikes customer bills Southern Water, the second most indebted water firm in the UK, faces growing reputation issues following doubling of CEO compensation in 12 months.

Southern Water, the second most indebted water firm in the UK, faces growing reputation issues following doubling of CEO compensation in 12 months: www.clearlypr.co.uk/insights/sou...

It's a classic case of making sure that the words you use in your press statements or key note addresses are carefully considered. If they're not, as we can see here, they become fodder for the media seeking a great headline. Thames Water... who IS doing your PR? Blunder after blunder...