All I can say is - Wow, how stupid can you be?
David Schooley, a senior UBS Banker recently posed with a picture of a lion that he shot on a recent hunting trip in Africa.
With bankers already being portrayed as cold-blooded, greedy, sociopaths who took the world to the edge of financial collapse, this nit-wit decides to pay a ton of money to get the special privlege to kill a lion.
His response to those upset with his behavior?
Now, I'll admit, I think hunting for sport is disgusting, so I suppose I have a bias in response to this.
But even factoring in my personal bias, I still think this is one of the dumbest things you can do from a PR perspective. And his response to becoming a media story was pathetic - hey, i've always done this so what's the problem, I didn't break any laws?
Ironically, this is the same line of response the bankers used when questioned by congress - we didn't break any laws so I don't understand why you are geting so upset with us?
I hate to say it, because who would have ever thought it necessary, but if I were doing PR for the banks I'd put out a memo requesting:
On the PR front we would really appreciate it if for the foreseeable future you could avoid activities in which you kill other living creatures. We are trying our best to repair our reputation with American citizens and a large majority of them do not look kindly on ego-driven, senseless killing of animals.
In addition, it would also be appreciated if over the next few years you could avoid being caught with prostitutes, doing illicit drugs, or engaging in other moral hazards that reflect badly on our organization.
If in exchange of these activities you would like to contribute to your local community or donate to worthwhile charities we would be appreciative as many American people see these kinds of behaviors as positive things. Please let us know if you plan to engage in these things so that we can support you on the PR front.
Ok, I wouldn't use those exact words (I'd be more articulate in case the memo got leaked to the media), but the message would be the same.
Point is, 'personal matters' as Schooley puts it, are not personal matters if you are a senior executive at a bank. Your personal life impacts the organization's brand and reputation. As banks try to manage the crisis they are currently in, the last thing the PR team needs is a picture of an executive out killing animals for fun.
It's mind boggling at times how extremely intelligent, successful people can be so dumb when it comes to PR.
David Schooley, you get this year's 2011 PR Darwin Award (and that says alot given the amount of bad PR that has unfold over the past year).
David Schooley, a senior UBS Banker recently posed with a picture of a lion that he shot on a recent hunting trip in Africa.
With bankers already being portrayed as cold-blooded, greedy, sociopaths who took the world to the edge of financial collapse, this nit-wit decides to pay a ton of money to get the special privlege to kill a lion.
His response to those upset with his behavior?
"I have been hunting all over the world for many, many years and I have always hunted within the legal arrangements of the country concerned. I regard that as an entirely personal matter.
"All the animals I hunt are wild beasts. And I have felt threatened by them at times.
"The lion I killed certainly wasn't an endangered species where I was hunting it."
Now, I'll admit, I think hunting for sport is disgusting, so I suppose I have a bias in response to this.
But even factoring in my personal bias, I still think this is one of the dumbest things you can do from a PR perspective. And his response to becoming a media story was pathetic - hey, i've always done this so what's the problem, I didn't break any laws?
Ironically, this is the same line of response the bankers used when questioned by congress - we didn't break any laws so I don't understand why you are geting so upset with us?
I hate to say it, because who would have ever thought it necessary, but if I were doing PR for the banks I'd put out a memo requesting:
On the PR front we would really appreciate it if for the foreseeable future you could avoid activities in which you kill other living creatures. We are trying our best to repair our reputation with American citizens and a large majority of them do not look kindly on ego-driven, senseless killing of animals.
In addition, it would also be appreciated if over the next few years you could avoid being caught with prostitutes, doing illicit drugs, or engaging in other moral hazards that reflect badly on our organization.
If in exchange of these activities you would like to contribute to your local community or donate to worthwhile charities we would be appreciative as many American people see these kinds of behaviors as positive things. Please let us know if you plan to engage in these things so that we can support you on the PR front.
Ok, I wouldn't use those exact words (I'd be more articulate in case the memo got leaked to the media), but the message would be the same.
Point is, 'personal matters' as Schooley puts it, are not personal matters if you are a senior executive at a bank. Your personal life impacts the organization's brand and reputation. As banks try to manage the crisis they are currently in, the last thing the PR team needs is a picture of an executive out killing animals for fun.
It's mind boggling at times how extremely intelligent, successful people can be so dumb when it comes to PR.
David Schooley, you get this year's 2011 PR Darwin Award (and that says alot given the amount of bad PR that has unfold over the past year).
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