CEO ACTIVISM IN 2017: HIGH NOON IN THE...
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CEO Activism in 2017: High Noon in the C-Suite is the second annual nationwide poll conducted by Weber Shandwick in partnership with KRC Research about CEO activism, an evolving dynamic in which some chief executive officers have spoken out publicly on controversial issues. We surveyed 1,021 U.S. adults, 18 years of age and older, representing the general population of America, to provide companies with insights into how the public expects business leaders to respond to hot-button issues of the day. This study follows The Dawn of CEO Activism, a 2016 study that identified the risks and rewards for companies when their chief executives speak out on contentious issues. For more information about CEO Activism in 2017: High Noon in the C-Suite, please contact: Micho Spring Global Corporate Practice Chair Weber Shandwick [email protected] Leslie Gaines-Ross Chief Reputation Strategist Weber Shandwick [email protected] 44% MILLENNIAL DEMAND FOR CEO ACTIVISM SURGES % who believe that CEOs have a responsibility to speak up about issues that are important to society % who say business leaders have a greater responsibility to speak out now than in years past HIGH NOON IN THE C-SUITE MILLENNIAL BUYING DECISIONS INCREASINGLY INFLUENCED BY CEO ACTIVISM % who say they would be more likely to buy from a company whose CEO speaks out on an issue they agree with MILLENNIAL EMPLOYEES PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO CEO ACTIVIST BOSSES % who say they would be more loyal to their organisation if their own CEO took a public position on a hotly debated current issue (among full-time employees) Millennials Gen Xers Boomers 16% 18% OF MILLENNIALS OF GEN XERS 11% 17% 14% Change since 2016 51% 33% 30% OF BOOMERS THE COST OF SILENCE Risk of CEOs not speaking out on hotly debated current issues (% Total Americans) RISK OF CRITICISM 47% (NET) RISK TO BOTTOM LINE 38% (NET) RISK TO TALENT POOL 20% (NET) From media (30%) From customers (26%) From employees (21%) From government (9%) Sales decline (21%) Boycotts (21%) Financial hardship (20%) Candidate applications decline (14%) Employees quitting (12%) 47% 28% 28% 56% 36% 35% MILLENNIALS GEN XERS BOOMERS MILLENNIALS GEN XERS BOOMERS CEO ACTIVISM IN 2017:
Transcript of CEO ACTIVISM IN 2017: HIGH NOON IN THE...
CEO Activism in 2017: High Noon in the C-Suite is the second annual nationwide poll conducted by Weber Shandwick in partnership with KRC Research about CEO activism, an evolving dynamic in which some chief executive officers have spoken out publicly on controversial issues. We surveyed 1,021 U.S. adults, 18 years of age and older, representing the general population of America, to provide companies with insights into how the public expects business leaders to respond to hot-button issues of the day. This study follows The Dawn of CEO Activism, a 2016 study that identified the risks and rewards for companies when their chief executives speak out on contentious issues.
For more information about CEO Activism in 2017: High Noon in the C-Suite, please contact:
Micho SpringGlobal Corporate Practice Chair Weber [email protected]
Leslie Gaines-RossChief Reputation StrategistWeber [email protected]
44%
MILLENNIAL DEMAND FOR CEO ACTIVISM SURGES
% who believe that CEOs have a responsibility to speak up about issues that are important to society
% who say business leaders have a greater responsibility to speak out now than in years past
HIGH NOON IN THE C-SUITE
MILLENNIAL BUYING DECISIONS INCREASINGLY INFLUENCED BY CEO ACTIVISM% who say they would be more likely to buy from a company whose CEO speaks out on an issue they agree with
MILLENNIAL EMPLOYEES PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO CEO ACTIVIST BOSSES% who say they would be more loyal to their organisation if their own CEO took a public position on a hotly debated current issue (among full-time employees)
Millennials
Gen Xers
Boomers
16%
18%
OF MILLENNIALS OF GEN XERS
11% 17% 14%Change since 2016
51% 33% 30%OF BOOMERS
THE COST OF SILENCERisk of CEOs not speaking out on hotly debated current issues (% Total Americans)
RISK OF CRITICISM47% (NET)
RISK TO BOTTOM LINE38% (NET)
RISK TO TALENT POOL20% (NET)
From media (30%)From customers (26%)From employees (21%)From government (9%)
Sales decline (21%)Boycotts (21%)Financial hardship (20%)
Candidate applications decline (14%)Employees quitting (12%)
47%
28% 28%
56%
36% 35%
MILLE
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GEN X
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BOOM
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MILLE
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GEN X
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BOOM
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CEO ACTIVISM IN 2017:
