Archive
News & Opinions
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Corporate Affairs Trends for 2026
December 10, 2025
We’re pleased to share our latest 2026 Corporate Affairs Trends Report. Building on last year’s forecast, this year’s trends reflect data, observation, and conversations with clients at a time when uncertainty, pressure on communications leaders, and expectations from executives and stakeholders have only intensified. Each trend outlines what’s happening, why it matters in a landscape that is increasingly complex and rapidly evolving, and offers practical value as you plan for 2026 — including the impact...
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Progress, not perfection: sustainability in the era of transparency and action
October 23, 2025
Sustainability has become a lightning rod for political debate in the past 12 months. However, our new research shows that sustainability remains a significant priority for businesses in the UK. In fact, two-thirds (66%) of UK business leaders report they are becoming more vocal as global debates intensify. But that doesn’t mean it’s easy. While sustainability clearly remains high on the agenda, talking about it publicly feels increasingly daunting. The pressure to communicate effectively –...
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Leading in the era of the compounding crisis
October 2, 2025
Written by Nic Daley and Hannah Cambridge Navigating an organisation through a crisis has always been one of the most demanding requirements of executive leadership. We’ve walked alongside leaders as they've faced the toughest moments of their careers, with crises threatening not only licence to operate, but livelihoods and life itself. And in the modern era, amidst turbulent geopolitical tension, conflicting expectations and unyielding scrutiny, these challenges no longer strike in isolation – they overlap...
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AI in the Newsroom
August 26, 2025
PANEL EVENT: Generative AI is revolutionising content creation, distribution and audience engagement. Through an analysis of industry trends, case studies and expert insights, we will explore the rise of Generative AI in the newsroom (and beyond!) and the opportunities and challenges it presents for modern comms teams. AI isn’t just a productivity enhancer, it’s a strategic enabler – allowing brands to more effectively protect their reputations, navigate cultural complexity, and drive business outcomes. Join our...
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Marshall Manson Is Appointed CEO of FleishmanHillard UK
May 21, 2025
FleishmanHillard today announced the appointment of Marshall Manson as Chief Executive Officer of FleishmanHillard UK. Manson will assume the role effective immediately, overseeing the agency’s strategic direction, client service, growth, innovation and talent development across its UK operations. An accomplished communications leader with deep expertise in corporate affairs, campaigning, and digital engagement, Manson most recently served as Chair of Corporate Affairs, Digital & Insight at FleishmanHillard UK. In that role, he guided multidisciplinary teams and global...
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Beyond the Basket: The cultural forces that are shaping how Gen Z shop
March 19, 2025
For Gen Z, the journey to purchase is not linear. It involves a complicated web of touchpoints cultural influences. The notion of brand love is changing as “hype” trend cycles speed up, new brands emerge, stale brands die, dead brands are resurrected and iconic brands trailblaze by staying culturally tuned into the behaviors and attitudes of their communities. In order to stay ahead of the curve, brands need to balance being omnipresent in the hearts...
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Achieving Outsized Impact by Building Stronger Country Reputation
February 18, 2025
By Michael Hartt, Senior Partner & Head of International Affairs View full report here. In a world of fragmented geopolitics, economic volatility and societal upheaval, countries around the globe are navigating greater complexity than ever before. They will be defined by how they navigate this pressure-filled landscape. If they can do so successfully, the results are significant: economic opportunity, greater peace and security, progress on climate action, humanitarian crises and other challenges, and progress on...
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Corporate Affairs Trends for 2025
December 17, 2024
We're pleased to share our latest 2025 Corporate Affairs Trends Report. Using data and research, our team has forecast key trends for 2025 that corporate affairs leaders and anyone doing communications with an element of corporate, reputation, crisis, or risk mitigation ought to be preparing for. Every trend includes background information, a specific articulation of what’s going to be happening, and, crucially, recommendations for practical actions. Trends forecasting is necessarily an exercise in opinion. There...
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‘A conference season with more twists and turns than ‘Strictly…’ this year’
October 4, 2024
Party conferences held at the start of a new political cycle are usually marked with jubilant celebrations or cold-blooded recriminations depending on how you fared at the General Election. This year was no exception… but just not where it was expected. Despite securing a 172-seat majority and with over 20,000 people in attendance, the Labour Conference in Liverpool felt fractious. Discontent over the leaderships decision to cut winter fuel allowance for pensioners was manifest among...
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To drive business performance, we must master cultural alchemy
July 11, 2024
To drive business performance, we must master cultural alchemy Today’s business leaders are facing chronic disruption — inflation and cost pressures, AI and the digital revolution, geopolitical instability and societal issues. It’s taking a toll on business performance and heightening the pressure to transform, now and for the future, in an environment where the expectation is to somehow deliver more with less. Data shows that the most pressing challenge for global executive leaders is...