Month: March 2019

How to Mishandle a Crisis, Boeing-Style | eNews from OWC

Posted on March 29, 2019 by - eNewsletter

What is a company’s first mistake in responding to a crisis? No “holding statement.”

A holding statement is a media-ready initial response designed to control the message and address public concerns immediately following an incident. Such statements are the seat belts and airbags of a brand when a lawsuit is filed, a key executive is accused of misconduct or an angry client goes public without warning.

Here are the rules of survival:

  1. Tell it first; tell it fast; tell it all. (Don’t wait a week like Boeing did.)
  2. Acknowledge the situation and don’t be intimidated into thinking any apology proves you’re at fault.
  3. Explain what you’ve already done to address the issue.
  4. Provide a timeline of when and where there will be a follow-up action. 

Even the most battle-tested CEOs have problems when their cellphone lights up after-hours with bad news. What would you say, or not say, if your company experiences a data breach, exposing customer or employee data? How would you respond to the reporter who calls about a lawsuit against your company that was just filed and is now public record? What would you say if an executive is caught up in a federal investigation?

TPG was prepared when the Varsity Blues cheating scandal came to its doors. It knew the action it would take and didn’t fail to decisively deliver the news on time for the reporter’s deadline. TPG moved swiftly, announcing the executive had been put on “indefinite leave” because of personal misconduct and in the same statement, the company named the executive’s successor. There was no hand-wringing or second-guessing. The speed and clarity of the statement and action made the firm look strong.

Drafting holding statements before a crisis hits prepares a company to weather the storm and ensure it will be less likely to blame and shame, and when handled correctly, these statements can enhance the image of the company.

More than 25 percent of a company’s market value is derived from its reputation, which can change in an instant because social media amplifies and weaponizes negative news. This is why it is crucial to assess your risk ahead of time and prepare holding statements that can be issued within the hour and a half window after a major crisis breaks.

Do you have holding statements in your crisis plan? Now’s the time to prepare.

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The Tangent Agency’s Marc Becker among LABJ’s Most Influential Marketers

Posted on March 19, 2019 by - Client News

The Los Angeles Business Journal just included The Tangent Agency’s Marc Becker among its “Most Influential Marketers” list.

Marc Becker served as an executive at Universal Pictures in the global brand marketing team for seven years. There, he helped develop unique, synergistic campaigns integrating films across all NBCU/Comcast platforms including television networks, digital channels, Comcast and Universal Parks & Resorts. His expertise in cementing the success of entertainment properties and multiplatform brand extensions can be seen in the launch of the “Despicable Me” franchise and enhancement of the “Fast & Furious” saga. In 2014, while working full time at Universal, Becker earned his MBA at the USC Marshall School of Business.

In 2015, Becker became CEO of The Tangent Agency. Tangent is now an industry-leading creative powerhouse working hand-in-hand with every major film studio, several television networks, and a multitude of blue-chip brands. Through insight-driven strategy, the Tangent team fortifies properties with innovative content and captivating creative. In 2018, under Becker’s leadership, Tangent worked on 27 of the top 40 box office films of the year.

Read the full article: Most Influential Marketers: Marc Becker (Los Angeles Business Journal)

CURE Pharmaceutical expands DEA license to manufacture cannabinoid molecules

Posted on March 14, 2019 by - Client News

CURE Pharmaceutical announced it has broadened its U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) license as an authorized manufacturer of Schedule 1 substances to include both cannabis plant extracts and synthetic cannabidiol (CBD). This license allows CURE to take advantage of its latest U.S. Patent No. 10,238,705 issuing this month for the extraction and purification of cannabis plant material, as well as subsequent processing of cannabis extracts for drug formulation.

CURE will develop and manufacture cannabis-derived and synthetic cannabidiol-based pharmaceutical products using its CUREfilm™ technology at its facility in Oxnard, Calif.  CUREfilm technology is ideal for the delivery of cannabinoids as it offers increased bioavailability, ease and precision of dosing and greater palatability.

“This license approval significantly expands the potential formulations we can develop,” said Rob Davidson, CEO of CURE Pharmaceutical. “Which, coupled with our growing patent estate and proprietary manufacturing process, extends our competitive advantage and moves us closer to bringing breakthrough pharmaceuticals to consumers.”

Read the latest coverage:
CURE Pharmaceutical Expands DEA License To Manufacture Cannabinoid Molecules (Benzinga)
CURE Pharmaceutical Snags DEA License to Manufacture Pharmaceuticals From Cannabis (BioSpace)

The Atlantic spotlights Saban Community Clinic’s work with L.A.’s homeless

Posted on March 11, 2019 by - Client News

On one recent February afternoon, the Saban Community Clinic physician assistant Negeen Farmand walked through homeless encampments in Hollywood carrying a backpack with medical supplies. She stopped to talk to a man sweeping the sidewalks. He said he sees “everything and anything” in the gutters and hopes he doesn’t get sick.

She introduced herself to a few others and asked if they had any health issues that needed checking. When she saw Millar, Farmand checked her blood pressure, asked about her asthma, and urged her to come see a doctor for treatment of her hepatitis C, a viral infection spread through contaminated blood that can lead to serious liver damage.

“To get these people to come into a clinic is a big thing,” she said. “A lot of them are distrustful of the health-care system.”

Read the full article: Medieval Diseases Are Infecting California’s Homeless (The Atlantic)

CrowdOut Capital among Built in Austin’s 50 Startups to Watch

Posted on March 5, 2019 by - Client News

Now in its fourth year running, Built in Austin’s 50 Startups to Watch list highlights local tech companies less than five years old that are bracing for a big 2019. This year’s list includes startups with big ambitions for everything from improving mental health to leveraging emerging technologies like blockchain, robotics, quantum computing and more.

CrowdOut Capital hosts a lending platform that lets middle- and lower-market companies raise money. In November of last year, the fintech startup raised $2.5 million from members of its investor network who participate in their loans, as well as from its CEO and co-founder, Alexander Schoenbaum. Individuals interested in investing can put $1,000 or more directly into corporate loans ranging from $3 million to $50 million.

See the full list: Built in Austin’s 50 Startups to Watch in 2019 (Built In Austin)