Lloyd Blankfein - Mahony Partners

Jan

2014

Saving Sergio Ermotti

Financial Services, Taking & Managing Risk

UBS chief executive Sergio Ermotti bravely launched a defense of the banking sector and hit out at its critics in a candid interview from the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. In this post, we imagine the conversation Ermotti had with his PR chieftain when he returned from the mountains. (more…) Read More

May

2012

I’m Starting to Worry about Goldman Sachs

Financial Services

The outlines of Goldman’s new public relations strategy are becoming clearer. It involves more television appearances by CEO Lloyd Blankfein, investments in trendy green-tech companies and a new twitter account, unveiled at yesterday’s annual shareholder meeting. It is part of an effort to create a “more open and friendly” firm, according to news reports. Lloyd Blankfein in a Zuckerberg-style hoodie surely is next on the agenda. This looks a little like the time your uncle tried to look cool by wearing skinny jeans. He was still the same fat guy, just a lot more uncomfortable.... Read More

Mar

2012

Welcome to Goldman Sachs, Mr. Siewert – Update

Crisis, Financial Services

In an earlier post, I suggested that Goldman send a note to its employees to respond to Greg Smith’s public resignation letter. It appears my advice was taken. Goldman chiefs Lloyd Blankfein and Gary Cohn did indeed send a memo (perhaps I'll send them a large bill). It was very well done. Here’s why: It used data, not opinion. Goldman was able to cite its employee survey data to demonstrate widespread support for ... Read More

Mar

2012

Welcome to Goldman Sachs, Mr. Siewert

Crisis, Financial Services

The public resignation letter by Greg Smith, a Goldman executive, is lighting up the blogosphere. It’s certainly not the way Jake Siewert imagined spending his first day on the job as head of communications. As a candid, personal confession from a Goldman insider, the letter is very damaging. It counters the notion that Goldman has been a united force, its p... Read More

Feb

2012

Defending Goldman Sachs: The 5 reasons its PR has triumphed under Lucas van Praag

Advertising, Crisis, Financial Services, Media

Lucas van Praag, the longtime communications chief at Goldman Sachs, is stepping down. To those of us in the PR trade, this news yesterday was much more significant than Facebook's IPO filing and the legion of twentysomething millionaires it will spawn. Van Praag has done a brilliant job of defending Goldman and handling the outsized egos that walk its halls. Goldman is smart, arrogant, highly successful and envied – qualities that make it a PR challenge, every day. No one has handled it better. (Disclosure: I’ve known Lucas for a long time, and sought his help whe... Read More