September 30, 2023
Southwest Airlines reputation crisis. At crisis day 277, Southwest equity is under performing the S&P500 index by 36.5%.
Southwest Airlines reputation crisis. At crisis day 277, Southwest equity is under performing the S&P500 index by 36.5%.
In a world of polycrisis, […] risk managers need to… market the elevated quality of their risk management processes. The author thanks for their contributions to this article:
Courtney Davis Curtis, University of Chicago; Deyna Feng, Cummins, Inc.; Mary C. Friedl, Redbox; Kathleen A. Graham, The HQ Companies; Chris Hammond, Stepan; Enya He, Blu Clarity PBC; Carnell R. Jones, Trinitas Ventures; Christy Kaufman, Zillow Group; John C. Kline, Discover Financial Services; Manuel Padilla, MacAndrews & Forbes Incorporated; Soubhagya Parija, FirstEnergy and New York Power Authority; Kristen Peed, CBIZ; Theresa Severson, Kite Realty Group; Seung Yoo, Regal Rexnord Corporation; and Denise Williamee, Steel City Re.
Tech companies changed policies. “(S)parking outsized emotional reactions, Kossovsky said,…are a hallmark of matters carrying serious reputational risks.”
“Lightning does strike,” (Kossovsky) said, but firms that can demonstrate that they have developed effective governance systems and implemented thoughtful risk management experience a much different impact: “That’s where enterprise risk management creates value.”
Backlash Over AI Work. Companies can mitigate the risk of backlash by encouraging collaboration between IT, enterprise risk management and communications within the organization, as well as getting the board involved in overseeing the risk management process, said Steel City Re’s Kossovsky.
Southwest Airlines (LUV) equity returns at 193 days normalized to the S&P500 returns are -10.3% (predicted based on historic reputation risk for LUV: -7.0%). It is under performing the Dow Jones US Airlines Index (DJUSAR) by 28.7%. The implied loss to shareholders is $2bn.
Data-driven independent intelligence. Among the lessons we should learn about reputation risk from Silicon Valley Bank, Signature Bank, Credit Suisse and others is that directors need better, more objective information about what stakeholders expect: the source of reputation value.
Panic and stock share dump. Thriving in a tornado corridor or flood plain demands fortitude and a reliable risk strategy. The same goes for investing in equity markets. In times of panic — think Southwest Airlines, Norfolk Southern and Silicon Valley Bank — investor moxie may give way to stock share dumps. […] Integrated processes, timely intelligence and good risk communications will help investors appreciate and value risk strategies and not panic.
Yes, reputation is insurable. That’s the opinion of several carriers and agencies interviewed by Law360. “The proportion of the asset base of larger companies, and for the majority of companies these days, has shifted from the tangible and physical to the intangible. Reputation and brand are a core part of that,” Neil Kempston, head of Beazley’s Incubation Underwriting team, told Law360. […] Steel City Re instead offers parametric coverage, in which after some reputational loss, the insurer automatically applies a preset coverage amount based on the level of reputation impairment once a policy is found to be triggered.
ESG rhetoric pledge regrets. With ESG becoming as important to some companies as EBITDA and marketing departments ramping up the ESG rhetoric, the effective scope of dutiful oversight has expanded…The Delaware court increasingly sees oversight of all things mission-critical as a board duty.