PR and the Milton Friedman question

The theories of late economist Milton Friedman do not often make an appearance within the PR world. So it was interesting to hear them discussed at today’s presentation of Edelman’s latest Trust Barometer findings.

The study, now in its 11th year, looked at whether businesses exist solely to make profits – Friedman’s view – or whether companies should be willing to sacrifice profit in favour of investment in broader stakeholder interests.

It is a question that goes to the very heart of corporate reputation in the 21st century. And some of the findings, quite frankly, are astonishing.

Next Fifteen seeks City heavyweight to replace Will Whitehorn

Posted to Holmes Report here

Next Fifteen, the holding group that owns Text 100, Bite and OutCast, is hoping to beef up its investor relations credentials as it searches for a successor to outgoing chairman Will Whitehorn.

Virgin Galactic president Whitehorn is to depart his role after seven years with the company, seven months after his appointment as non-executive chairman at marketing services group Loewy. Next Fifteen CEO Tim Dyson told the Holmes Report that “City experience” is an important requirement for the next chairman, after admitting earlier that public ownership has not necessarily helped the AIM-listed Next Fifteen access more capital.