Mac's Musings

Public Relations Message – Banking on Clarity

There's nothing like a good public relations message to make your company's position absolutely clear to the outside world.

The Northern Rock crisis has produced four months of mixed messages from the Government, shareholders, bidders, borrowers and bankers. But the latest corporate-speak from Luqnan Arnold at would-be bidders Olivant has got the lads in the snug at the recently-rebranded Slug and Banker a bit puzzled.

Mr Arnold told the Daily Telegraph: 'We have been unable to formulate a value-creation proposal which meets our investment criteria whilst also respecting HM Government's proposed financing terms and the interests of other stakeholders in the company.'

The tap room consensus was that what he really meant was: 'I'm out! That idiot Darling just isn't offering enough dosh.'

Thank heavens Mr Arnold is out. It's one thing to tear up the rules of banking, it's another thing altogether to commit 'cold-blooded murder of the English tongue', as My Fair Lady's Professor Higgins once said.

If you would like to learn more about delivering a clear message to the media, you can bank on one of our media awareness and training courses.

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