The issue at Campbell’s is neither one of compliance nor enterprise risk management, but rather one of reputation risk governance. The question is therefore how did reputation resilience become so impaired that that one-year old stupid comment by an allegedly impaired senior executive, then into his 5th month of employment, exposed weak governance, reputation risk management, and reputation crisis management?
The trailing twelve month spreads over the S&P500 of the three reputation-linked indices comprising RepuStars Variety Corporate Reputation Composite Equity Index family range from 2.43% to 20.67%. The spread between the two reputation-based price-only indices, REPUVAR and REPUSPX, is 15.68%. All three indices are outperforming the S&P500. Over its lifetime, the reputation premium-seeking RepuSPX is out-performing the S&P500 Index by 380.09%
Facebook recognized the reputational risk associated with its users’ privacy, and the shareholders homed in on this in their lawsuit. […] “Facebook is in the business of collecting user data, and if its reputation is damaged such that users lose their trust, it has the potential to damage the company’s and its investors’ long-term interest beyond the fines and penalties already paid” […] Mission-critical risks have become intertwined with boards’ fiduciary duties … reputation can be a mission-critical risk for many companies, according to Nir Kossovsky, CEO of Steel City Re, an insurance provider for reputational risk.
Plaintiffs suing Wells Fargo, pointing to firm’s history of reputation-damaging scandals, have asked the judge for permission to nominate three members of the bank’s board. Demands for board refreshment in shareholder lawsuits could become “a standard pressure strategy because it exposes directors to uncovered personal financial loss,” Kossovsky said, adding that such a loss would not be covered with conventional liability insurance because it is likely out of scope, “and not with parametric reputation insurance, because most boards still don’t carry it.”
PR nightmares mount for Pirates, who can’t win — on or off the field. […] Chatter about the team on social media might be loud, but that does not necessarily make it a concern, according to Nir Kossovsky, CEO of Steel City Re, a Pittsburgh-based reputation risk management and insurance firm. […] When a team’s reputation takes a grave hit, Mr. Kossovsky said, relationships with all stakeholders are at risk. The city or state could roll back any tax benefits or waivers they offer the franchise. The Pittsburgh Sports and Exhibition Authority, which collects $100,000 in base rent from the Pirates for PNC Park each year, could raise that rent or amend the lease. Vendors could pull out of contracts. Loans could become more expensive.
DEI-linked stock price drop lawsuits may lead to painful board exit conversations and impair board member’s’ personal reputations. “Companies are going to be scrutinized for the statements and positions that they’ve taken in these areas,” said Troy Harder. “I wouldn’t be surprised to see a lot more lawsuits like this.” […] “(H)ow companies monitor risk matters just as much as how they disclose it,” Jennifer Wu, an assistant professor of finance at the University at Buffalo’s School of Management, told Agenda. That’s why Steel City Re developed a comprehensive reputation risk monitoring, management, and insurance solution.
Public comments made by Cleveland-Cliffs’ CEO and chair against Japan and Nippon Steel that appeared to reference the 1945 nuclear bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki drew swift condemnation and underscore the precariousness of trying to win favor with the incoming administration, sources told Agenda. […] “Over the next few years, we will see a lot of strategic cultural posturing by executives like Mr. Goncalves,” Kossovsky said. “Whether they condone, condemn or ignore such comments, some dutiful and conscientious board members will paradoxically suffer personal reputational harm if aggrieved stakeholders feel betrayed.”
Steel City Re is the world’s only provider of parametric reputation insurance offerings, leveraging a reputational value index that delivers more stable and higher returns for reinsurers and insurance-linked securities (ILS) investors, according to co-founder and CEO Nir Kossovsky. […] “So, sustained loss ratios: stable returns, higher returns, and IP-protected extended returns over years,” explained Kossovsky.
Reputation risk management is a battle for the mind of the stakeholder. A range of parametric insurance products linked to reputation value and volatility help authenticate stories about the quality of risk management. It is how risk management and risk communications work together to create value.
“Unsavory” may be forgiven, if not forgotten. Speculation aside, objectively, none of Steel City Re’s reputation risk measures indicated a problem with MSGE. The obvious benefit of such objective metrics is that it protects CEOs’ reputation-linked compensation and shields boards from attacks. Is your reputation risk management process insurance-authenticated?