Advising Leaders Through Complex Challenges
Burgess Advisors provides senior-level strategic counsel across corporate communications, reputation management, transaction communications, media relations, and crisis response. With a deep understanding of the pressures facing today’s executives, Chuck Burgess works directly with clients to develop clear, effective strategies tailored to their most pressing challenges.
Corporate Communications Strategy
Effective communications starts with the right internal structure, a compelling message, and an integrated strategy for engaging with all stakeholders. We develop and refine corporate communications departments and strategies to support the business objectives of our clients.
Reputation Management & Strategic Positioning
If a company does not actively shape its own reputation, it will be defined by other people. Every company has a distinct position in the market, and we use traditional and modern communications methods to help our clients build and protect the reputations they deserve.
Media Strategy & Relations
As the media landscape becomes more diverse and decentralized, it’s more important than ever for companies to develop a media strategy that allows them to play both offense and defense. From strategy, to message development and content creation, to media training, to execution, we offer the full scope of media relations support.
CEO & Leadership Transitions
Senior leadership transitions are key pivot points that either can lead to confusion and doubt or can reinforce key tenets of reputation, strategy and future outlook. We have counseled dozens of companies on CEO and senior leadership changes, including developing high-intensity communications plans for incoming CEOs seeking to make a quick impact on the organization.
Investor Relations
Great investor relations means more than reporting the financial results accurately; it means explaining those results in the context of the company’s long-term investment rationale and investors’ expectations. We advise senior executive teams and IR departments on effective financial messaging, shareholder targeting, complicated disclosure questions, special situations, and routine financial reporting.
M&A Communications
Working closely with our clients’ financial, legal, proxy, and government affairs advisors, we develop and implement communications plans that position friendly transactions for success, including anticipating potential challenges and preparing post-merger integration plans. We also arm our clients with the communications strategies and tools necessary to prevail in contested situations.
Shareholder Activism Defense & Proxy Contests
Every publicly traded company is a potential target for an activist. We help our clients analyze their vulnerabilities, understand investor sentiment, anticipate a range of scenarios and be prepared for the possibility of an activist approach. Whether the issue leads to a negotiated settlement or a full-blown proxy fight, we help our clients use the issue to further their reputational goals.
Litigation & Crisis Communications
Crises may be unexpected, but companies should never be unprepared. We help our clients prepare for and manage crises that risk both business results and corporate reputations. We are proud to have helped guide clients though workplace disasters, product failures and recalls, ethics violations, investigatory actions, executive fraud and many other high-stakes crises. With a focus on discretion and business continuity, we seek to ensure that the reputations of our clients are not defined by their darkest days.
If you’re facing a critical communications challenge, let’s talk.