Study Finds Investors and Media Are Lost in the Social Clutter: Investor Relations and Corporate Communications Must Work in 'Lockstep' to Engage Today's Stakeholders

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., Nov. 15, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- FTI Consulting, Inc. (NYSE: FCN), the global, business advisory firm dedicated to helping organizations protect and enhance their enterprise value, today announced the full results of the firm's Digital Engagement Study, which evaluates the digital and social media practices of institutional investors and financial and business media professionals. Conducted by the firm's Strategic Communications segment, the research findings emphasize the need for companies' investor relations (IR) and corporate communications functions to operate under a unified digital strategy and the importance of leveraging online influencers as a means to amplify company messages via social media platforms.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20131115/NY17529-INFO )

Findings from the FTI Consulting study underscore a disconnect between how media and investors prefer to consume information, and how companies currently disseminate information. While 88 percent of media and 50 percent of investors agree or strongly agree that breaking news via "social media" (e.g., Facebook, Twitter) is useful, only 41 percent of media and 13 percent of investors are able to locate relevant corporate information online.

"The proliferation of digital communications has resulted in a surround-sound ecosystem," says Bob Knott, Senior Managing Director and Americas Head of the Corporate Communications practice in the Strategic Communications segment at FTI Consulting. "An organization's ability to narrowcast its communications to discrete stakeholder groups is gone, and it is not coming back. Companies' IR and corporate communications functions must now — more than ever — work in lockstep, and leverage a variety of real-time platforms to communicate critical business information to its key audiences, which include media and investors."

According to the firm's survey, 92 percent of media and 89 percent of investors turn to "corporate-owned platforms" (e.g., newsrooms, IR websites) when evaluating a company. Fifty percent of media find both webcasts and posing questions directly to a company on social media channels to be equally valuable resources, underscoring the significance of a multi-channel approach to sharing corporate news (versus 16 percent of investors).

The study also underscores the importance of "content vehicles" (e.g., press releases, infographics, videos) in amplifying corporate information. It finds that media are partial to "rich content" (e.g., videos, infographics, blog posts), with 78 percent identifying "rich content" as somewhat or very useful. Although both audiences still deem "traditional formats" (e.g., press releases, SEC filings) valuable, investors find "traditional formats" 18 percent more credible than "rich content" vehicles (versus 10 percent of media). Therefore, organizations must remain vigilant in executing both traditional and digital communications under a unified corporate approach to resonate with its full network of stakeholders.

Overall, investors still deem "third-party, financial influencers'" (e.g., financial and business media, other institutional investors, proxy advisers, sell-side analysts) social content twice as valuable as company-generated social content. Fourteen percent of investors access company-generated content directly on social media and 40 percent of those same investors seek social content from "third-party, financial influencers".

"As further substantiated by the study, when orchestrating a company's communications strategy, it is important to recognize that media and investors engage on social media in different ways," says Elizabeth Saunders, Senior Managing Director and Americas Chairman of the Strategic Communications segment at FTI Consulting. "Given the wealth of digital content available to investors today, they're increasingly seeking original perspectives from financial influencers via social media. Consequently, it's imperative that companies build strong relationships with these third-party stakeholders, media included, to move the needle with investors on these growing digital channels."

For more information, visit: http://fticonsulting.com/digitalstudy.

Research Methodology

The Strategic Communications segment at FTI Consulting conducted an online survey among institutional investors and financial and business media professionals between Oct. 3 and Oct. 24, 2013. The survey sample consisted of 201 global institutional investors (e.g., analysts, portfolio managers) and 41 global, financial and business media professionals (e.g., bloggers, editors, reporters).

About FTI Consulting

FTI Consulting, Inc. is a global business advisory firm dedicated to helping organizations protect and enhance enterprise value in an increasingly complex legal, regulatory and economic environment. With more than 4,100 employees located in 25 countries, FTI Consulting professionals work closely with clients to anticipate, illuminate and overcome complex business challenges in areas such as investigations, litigation, mergers and acquisitions, regulatory issues, reputation management, strategic communications and restructuring. The company generated $1.58 billion in revenues during fiscal year 2012. For more information, visit www.fticonsulting.com and connect with us on Twitter (@FTIConsulting), Facebook, and LinkedIn.

VIEW CONTENT

Investors Say Activist Shareholders Have the Upper Hand Against Companies in Effectively Leveraging Social Media to Gain Support

FTI Consulting Study Finds 80 Percent of Investors Identify Shareholder Activism via Social Media as Disconcerting; However, Only 11 Percent Are Confident Corporations Have a Strong Investor Relations Digital Engagement Defense

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., Nov. 6, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- FTI Consulting, Inc. (NYSE: FCN), the global business advisory firm dedicated to helping organizations protect and enhance their enterprise value, today announced the preliminary results of the firm's new Digital Engagement Study among institutional investors on the use and impact of digital and social media, as conducted by the firm's Strategic Communications segment. The preliminary findings from the study underscore the proliferation of digital and social engagement by investors, shareholder activists and financial media alike and an ill-defined digital defense strategy among organizations' investor relations (IR) and corporate communications entities.

As the financial community becomes increasingly reliant upon digital communications channels, financial and corporate communications teams are being challenged to engage a cross section of audiences on shared social media platforms. Among financial audiences, IR departments commonly do not have an active role in the company's daily social media management while corporate communications functions, which typically oversee these social channels, are being forced to make real-time decisions about financial matters typically outside of their remit.

"It is clear to us that activist investors have staked out a new battleground from which to attack corporate America," said Elizabeth Saunders, Senior Managing Director and Americas Chairman of the Strategic Communications segment at FTI Consulting. "Carl Icahn may have been the first mover, but our study confirms that, going forward, we can expect more activists to exploit this gap in corporate defenses. This is a wake-up call to companies that IR and corporate communications teams can no longer operate as independent silos -- particularly in the case of social media, through which information and opinions are so rapidly generated."

The FTI Consulting study found that 80 percent of investors believe shareholder activists will increasingly leverage social media to target companies. However, only 11 percent are confident that companies are adequately prepared to defend themselves on social media platforms.

Despite heightened digital engagement within the financial community, the research highlights that investors still prefer content filtered through third-party financial influencers (e.g., media, sell-side analysts). The study also found that 40 percent of investors seek content from these influencers via social media (vs. corporations directly) compared with only 14 percent of investors that seek information directly from corporations on social media.

While investors continue to rely heavily on traditional disclosure vehicles (e.g., press releases, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filings), the research uncovers an emerging reliance on digital mediums (e.g., videos, infographics) among investors. Although the traditional formats are deemed 18 percent more credible by investors, the rich media formats are considered 13 percent more insightful and 11 percent more motivating.

"The findings of this study emphasize that narrowcasting communications to the financial community no longer is possible, given that stakeholders are seeking information in increasingly varied ways," said Mitzi Emrich, Managing Director, Digital and Social Engagement in the Strategic Communications segment at FTI Consulting. "It is critical for companies to have a social media presence; share information across a broad range of both traditional and digital channels; and use emerging media to connect with stakeholders -- and influencers -- in new and meaningful ways."

FTI Consulting will preview and discuss the full study at The Holmes Report's Global PR Summit 2013 to be held in Miami on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2013. The panel entitled "The Convergence of Financial Communications and Digital" will include additional research findings on media and corporate digital engagement and feature insights from industry-leading communications executives.

For more information on the report, visit: www.fticonsulting.com/digitalstudy.

Survey Methodology
The Strategic Communications segment at FTI Consulting conducted an online survey among institutional investors between Oct. 3 and Oct. 11, 2013. The survey sample consisted of 201 global institutional investors (e.g., analysts, portfolio managers).

About FTI Consulting
FTI Consulting, Inc. is a global business advisory firm dedicated to helping organizations protect and enhance enterprise value in an increasingly complex legal, regulatory and economic environment. With more than 4,000 employees located in 24 countries, FTI Consulting professionals work closely with clients to anticipate, illuminate and overcome complex business challenges in areas such as investigations, litigation, mergers and acquisitions, regulatory issues, reputation management, strategic communications and restructuring. The company generated $1.58 billion in revenues during fiscal year 2012. For more information, visit www.fticonsulting.com and connect with us on Twitter (@FTIConsulting), Facebook and LinkedIn.

VIEW CONTENT

New Poll: Washington, D.C. Policymakers Want CEO's Ideas on Jobs and Education

FTI Consulting Poll Shows Washington, D.C. Insiders and the American Public want CEOs to be part of the Public Policy Debate on Job Creation and STEM Education

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., Oct. 10, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- FTI Consulting, Inc. (NYSE: FCN), the global business advisory firm dedicated to helping organizations protect and enhance their enterprise value, has released findings from a new survey of Washington, D.C. policymakers, institutional investors and the U.S. general public. The survey conducted and released by FTI Consulting'sStrategic Communications segment shows support for U.S. CEOs to play an active yet limited role in national-policy debates.

FTI Consulting's CEO as Statesman II: Views from the Beltway and Beyond demonstrates that C-suite engagement in Washington requires an understanding of both policy consequences and political context for success. The report comes at a time when CEOs are being drawn more deeply into the policymaking process, due in large part to the aftermath of the financial crisis; and the enactment of landmark legislation such as the Affordable Care Act and Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. CEO as Statesman II expands upon a December 2011 poll from FTI Consulting, including a significantly wider point of view with survey responses from institutional investors, Washington, D.C. opinion elites and the U.S. general public.

"Many business leaders have expressed alarm surrounding government oversight of and intrusion into business, but are unsure about the best ways to engage with policymakers. There is skepticism from voters and policymakers regarding CEO activity in the nation's capital, but a recognition that the business community is needed to help solve some of the country's biggest problems," said Jackson Dunn, Senior Managing Director and Americas Head of Public Affairs in the Strategic Communications segment. "The challenge for a business leader today is to know how to engage and on which issues."

The poll reconfirms investors clearly recognize the impact Washington, D.C. can have on portfolios, and shows that investors regard CEO engagement in the political and policymaking process as positive, so long as that engagement is related to the CEO's business or industry. More than three-quarters of investors polled (76 percent) say decisions on Capitol Hill are ranked moderately-high to high, a decline from similar polling in 2011 when 89 percent ranked decision-making in Washington, D.C. as an area of concern. Eight in 10 (79 percent) investors would like their portfolio companies to be more vocal about the impact of policy changes on their respective businesses, while more than half (53 percent) feel public companies should be highly engaged in national policy discussions.

However, policymakers are far more skeptical of the presence of corporations and CEOs in policy debates. Only 40 percent feel CEO participation in public-policy discussion is positive, a figure that falls to just 34 percent among the general public.

When asked about job creation and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) education all three audiences were open to what business leaders can bring to the table.

Among institutional investors:
- 53 percent say they would like to see CEOs of their portfolio companies play an active role on policies related to job creation.
- 61 percent say they would like to see CEOs of their portfolio companies play an active role on policies related to STEM education.
Among Washington, D.C. opinion elites:
- 76 percent say they would like to see CEOs active on policies related to job creation.
- 65 percent say they would like to see CEOs active on policies related to STEM education.
Among the U.S. general public:
- 73 percent say they would like to see CEOs active on policies related to job creation.
- 61 percent say they would like to see CEOs active on policies related to STEM education.

"Capitol Hill and Wall Street are never going to see eye-to-eye on who is best positioned to solve pressing problems facing this country, whether that is deficit reduction, entitlement spending or tax reform. There is a narrow region where investors, policymakers and the public share a point of view though – it all comes down to job creation and STEM education," said Elizabeth Saunders, Senior Managing Director and Americas Chairman of the Strategic Communications segment. "Given the consensus, it is obvious where CEOs should focus their energy in Washington, D.C."

Elsewhere in the survey, investors agree CEOs would make strong political leaders, as three-out-of-four (74 percent) institutional investors say national challenges would be better addressed if business leaders ran for office, according to the poll. Among Washington, D.C. opinion elites, just 38 percent would like to see more CEOs become politicians, compared to 45 percent among the general public.

Survey Methodology

The Strategic Communications segment at FTI Consulting conducted its second iteration of the CEO as Statesman survey online, June 14–July 2, 2013. The survey sample consisted of 140 U.S. institutional investors (i.e., analysts, portfolio managers) from 118 different firms. The total equity of assets managed by the represented firms was $2.3 trillion, with an average equity of $19.2 billion, and a median equity of $941.8 million. The sample was generated from Ipreo by screening for U.S. analysts and portfolio managers.

Analysis comparisons were made across three other FTI Consulting surveys as well:

1. FTI Consulting's first iteration of this survey (i.e., "CEO as Statesman I"), was conducted online, Dec. 9–11, 2011, among a similar sample of 260 U.S. institutional investors (analysts and portfolio managers) at 228 different firms drawn from identical sources.

2. A June 26–27, 2013 FTI Consulting survey was conducted among 300 Washington, D.C. opinion elites. Respondents qualified as Washington, D.C. opinion elites based on their employment in academia, associations, communications, Congress, consulting, Executive Branch, federal government, legal, lobbying, media, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), nonprofit or think tanks in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.

3. A May 29–June 2, 2013 FTI Consulting survey was conducted among a nationally representative sample set of U.S. adults age 18 and older.

About FTI Consulting

FTI Consulting, Inc. is a global business advisory firm dedicated to helping organizations protect and enhance enterprise value in an increasingly complex legal, regulatory and economic environment. With more than 4,000 employees located in 24 countries, FTI Consulting professionals work closely with clients to anticipate, illuminate and overcome complex business challenges in areas such as investigations, litigation, mergers and acquisitions, regulatory issues, reputation management, strategic communications and restructuring. The company generated $1.58 billion in revenues during fiscal year 2012. More information can be found at www.fticonsulting.com.

VIEW CONTENT

Jeffrey LeFevre

November 6, 2013

FTI Consulting

Digital Engagement Study: Investor Views on Shareholder Activism

Jeffrey LeFevre

November 6, 2013

FTI Consulting

B2B Digital Marketing-Communications Work

Infographic, Press Release and Social Media: “ Digital Engagement Study: Investor Views on Shareholder Activism”

VIEW CONTENT

Jeffrey LeFevre

October 10, 2013

FTI Consulting

CEO as Statesman II: Views from the Beltway and Beyond

Jeffrey LeFevre

October 10, 2013

FTI Consulting

B2B Digital Marketing-Communications Work

Infographic, Press Release and Social Media: “CEO as Statesman II: Views from the Beltway and Beyond”

VIEW CONTENT

Jeffrey LeFevre

June 28, 2013

MSLGROUP

MSL Chicago Blog

Jeffrey LeFevre

June 28, 2013

MSLGROUP

B2B Digital Marketing-Communications Work

Blog Posts: Select MSL Chicago “In the Loop” Posts (February 2011 to July 2013)

VIEW CONTENT

Jeffrey LeFevre

May 7, 2013

MSLGROUP

Executive Appointment Press Releases

Jeffrey LeFevre

May 7, 2013

MSLGROUP

B2B PR Work

Press Releases: Varied Executive Appointments

Larry Larsen Joins MSLGROUP’s Growing Chicago Corporate Practice

MSLGROUP has appointed Larry Larsen as a senior vice president in the Chicago office. He will be a senior strategist focusing on financial communications, crisis communications and financial media relations.

Chicago, May 7 2013: MSLGROUP has appointed Larry Larsen as a senior vice president in the Chicago office. He will be a senior strategist focusing on financial communications, crisis communications and financial media relations.

"Larry brings more than 17 years of agency experience and expertise in financial communications and investor relations to MSLGROUP," said Brad Wilks, Midwest Managing Director MSLGROUP North America. "His joining our firm is further demonstration of MSLGROUP's commitment to strengthening our corporate and financial communications offering in North America."

Most recently, he served as a principal at Sard Verbinnen & Co. where he was senior communications advisor and chief financial writer for a number of blue-chip clients, including DeVry Inc., Kroger Co., Walgreen Co., Midas International Corp. and Select Comfort Corp. He has also held positions at communications agencies, Weber Shandwick, Edelman, Fleishman-Hillard and Hill+Knowlton Strategies.

Larsen holds a MBA degree in finance and marketing from Loyola University Chicago and a B.A. in classics from Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pa. He serves on the board of directors for the Chicago chapter of the National Investor Relations Institute (NIRI), and as a communications volunteer with the American Cancer Society CEOs Against Cancer (CAC) program.

About MSLGROUP
MSLGROUP is Publicis Groupe's strategic communications and engagement group, advisors in all aspects of communication strategy: from consumer PR to financial communications, from public affairs to reputation management and from crisis communications to event management. With more than 3,700 people, its offices span 22 countries. Adding affiliates and partners into the equation, MSLGROUP's reach increases to 4,000 employees in 83 countries. Today the largest PR network in EMEA, Greater China and India, the group offers strategic planning and counsel, insight-guided thinking and big, compelling ideas – followed by thorough execution. Learn more about us at: www.mslgroup.com + http://blog.mslgroup.com + Twitter + YouTube.

About Publicis Groupe
Publicis Groupe [Euronext Paris FR0000130577, part of the CAC 40 index] is the third largest communications group in the world, offering the full range of services and skills: digital and traditional advertising, public affairs and events, media buying and specialized communication. Its major networks are Leo Burnett, MSLGROUP, PHCG (Publicis Healthcare Communications Group), Publicis Worldwide, Rosetta and Saatchi & Saatchi. VivaKi, the Groupe's media and digital accelerator, includes Digitas, Razorfish, Starcom MediaVest Group and ZenithOptimedia. Present in 104 countries, the Groupe employs 56,000 professionals.
www.publicisgroupe.com| Twitter: @PublicisGroupe | Facebook: www.facebook.com/publicisgroupe

VIEW CONTENT

MSLGROUP Appoints Jack Yeo to Lead Crisis and Issues Practice in Chicago

CHICAGO, Aug. 11, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- MSLGROUP, the Publicis Groupe's flagship communications and events company, today announced the appointment of Jack Yeo as senior vice president and director of Crisis and Issues Management in its Chicago office. He will be the senior crisis and issues management strategist for a number of the agency's corporate and consumer clients in the Midwest, and will be responsible for developing and building the office's crisis communications capabilities.

"The creation of a dedicated crisis and issues practice will enable us to fulfill an ongoing demand from both current clients and prospects: a seasoned, senior resource with experience across corporate and consumer clients," said Joel Curran, managing director, MSL Chicago. "Jack clearly understands the complexities of client needs in crisis and issues circumstances, and we're thrilled to have him join our growing corporate team in Chicago."

Yeo brings 20 years experience in corporate communications and crisis management to MSL Chicago. Most recently, he was corporate practice lead and chief operating officer at Henson Consulting where he defined and built the firm's corporate reputation offering and helped grow revenues and staff by more than 300 percent. Prior to joining Henson Consulting, Yeo was a senior leader at Burson-Marsteller where he spent 13 years as an account leader on several of the firm's largest and most valued clients, including Hormel Foods Corporation, CDW Corporation, Ameritech, R.R. Donnelley and The Chicago White Sox. Prior to joining Burson-Marsteller, he spent four years at Hill and Knowlton in the firm's corporate and financial relations group.

"I am honored to be a part of MSLGROUP. MSL is a fast-growing and strategic agency with a blue-chip client base," said Yeo. "I look forward to helping the firm build on its already strong crisis communications offering by developing and implementing wide-ranging crisis preparedness, crisis response and corporate reputation programs that can help current and future clients build and protect their valuable corporate reputations."

Yeo is a graduate of the William Allen White School of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Kansas and lives in Downers Grove, Ill. with his wife and three children.

About MSLGROUP

MSLGROUP is Publicis Groupe's PR, speciality communications and engagement group, advisors in all aspects of communication strategy: from consumer PR to employee communications, from public affairs to reputation management and from crisis communications to event management. With more than 2,900 people, its offices span 22 countries. Adding affiliates and partners into the equation, MSLGROUP's reach increases to 4,000 employees in 83 countries. Today, as the largest PR network in Greater China and India, the group offers strategic planning and counsel, insight-guided thinking and big, compelling ideas – followed by thorough execution. Learn more about us at: www.mslgroup.com + http://blog.mslgroup.com + Twitter + YouTube.

About Publicis Groupe

Publicis Groupe [listed on the Euronext Paris Exchange - FR0000130577 - and part of the CAC 40 index] is the world's third largest communications group. With activities spanning 104 countries on five continents, Publicis Groupe offers local and international clients a complete range of advertising services through three global advertising networks, Leo Burnett, Publicis, Saatchi & Saatchi, and numerous agencies including Fallon, 49%-owned Bartle Bogle Hegarty, and Kaplan Thaler Group. VivaKi combines digital and media expertise, allowing brands to connect with consumers in a holistic way, with Starcom MediaVest Group and ZenithOptimedia worldwide media networks; and interactive and digital marketing led by Digitas and Razorfish networks. VivaKi develops new services, tools, and next generation digital platforms. Publicis Groupe's specialized agencies and marketing services offer healthcare communications with Publicis Healthcare Communications Group (PHCG, the first network in healthcare communications), sustainability communications and multicultural communications. With MSLGROUP, one of the world's top three PR and Events networks, expertise ranges from corporate and financial communications to public relations and public affairs, branding, social media marketing and events. www.publicisgroupe.com