22 May 2008
Leading PR experts, reputation research practitioners and academics on both sides of the Atlantic have united to help found Echo Research's Senior Advisory Group of Experts (SAGEs), including former MORI directors Peter Hutton and Susan Walker. The mission of the Advisory Group is to benefit clients seeking best practice and counsel in measuring reputation and communications effectiveness from the premier leaders and thinkers in this area.
Echo's international network of experts has been specially selected for their experience, knowledge and passion in furthering management understanding and insights into intangibles, such as differentiation. They are notable individuals in their own right and bring their particular expertise and consultative approach for Echo's clients. From diverse backgrounds and locations, they are distinguished academics, communications professionals and specialist research
gurus on stakeholder management and employee engagement. Their experience is vast and practical - and now a unique benefit for Echo's clients to tap into.
Said Echo founder and CEO, Sandra Macleod, "Understanding what drives behaviour and commitment is fundamental to success in today's environment - be it in the provision of public services, supporting not-for-profits or running private companies. So far, there has been no objective 'Michelin Guide' for management teams to follow. Echo's 'SAGEs' aim to do just that - provide the high-level insights and support to this most important activity. We
have found senior management to be highly receptive of this additional counsel, and our Advisory Group helps us to formalise this offer for all our clients."
The Board is made up of seven founding members from both sides of the Atlantic whose names will be familiar to many, and include: |
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Peter Hutton, Former deputy managing director of MORI's corporate and consumer research division. With over 30 years' experience specialising in stakeholder and social research, Hutton authored the book Survey Research for Managers and published over 70 articles and papers on the use of research and organisational performance; |
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Susan Walker, former Research Director of MORI's communication and employee research practice. A leading figure on internal engagement and communications measurement, Walker specialises in interpreting results and working with clients to develop practical business planning solutions. |
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Roger Hayes, Co-founder of Echo Research and a part-time doctoral research associate at Henley Business School. Hayes has a long career in corporate communications, both as a consultant at Burson Marsteller and as Director of Communications for PA Management Consultants, Ford Europe and Thorn EMI. A former Reuters correspondent, he has acted as chief spokesman and policy head for the British nuclear energy industry, and CEO of the International Institute of Communications (IIC),
a global forum for debate on the impact of technology on communications policy; |
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Michael Morley, Non Executive Chairman of Echo Research Inc and former Deputy Chairman of Edelman Worldwide. Morley has a 40-year international experience, providing senior counsel to some of the world's leading organisations. Adjunct Professor at New York University, Morley is also Author of How to Manage Your Global Reputation, published by Palgrave Macmillan and NYU Press; |
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Elliot Schreiber, Ph.D., Fellow of the Arthur W. Page Centre for Integrity in Public Communications at Penn State University. Schreiber has a 30-year career in academia, consulting and corporate communications having served as Senior Vice President at both Bayer Corp. and Nortel. He has recently joined the faculty of the LeBow College of Business at Drexel University, Philadelphia teaching corporate brand and reputation management; |
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Don Stacks, Ph.D., Professor and Director of the University of Miami School of Communication Program in Public Relations. An award-winning academic and author on communications research with six books, 60 articles in referred journals, and 150 papers for professional societies, Dr. Stacks has consulted for Fortune 500 companies in media relations, crisis management, and internal corporate relations. He serves as a board member of the Institute for Public
Relations and IPRA; |
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Donald K. Wright, Ph.D., Professor of Public Relations at Boston University. Highly regarded for his applied research and in particular his specialty in employee communications research, Dr. Wright is the author of numerous articles on communications and communications research. He serves as a board member of the Institute for Public Relations, the Arthur W. Page Society, and is immediate past chair of the Commission for Public Relations Measurement and
Evaluation. Dr. Wright is also editor of PRSA's Public Relations Journal. |
Commented Peter Hutton on his appointment to Echo's Advisory Board, "Over the last decade, the communications function has become much more integrated with the business as a whole, critical in defining what the business is there for and critical to its strategy and survival. It now demands research that is much less formulaic and process-driven than in the past and conducted by researchers who are much more in tune with the way the organisation uniquely creates value
and the central role communications plays in this."
Professor Don Wright added: "The research stages of measurement and evaluation clearly set strategic public relations apart from publicity and press agentry. Echo Research has established itself as a global leader in communications research and it's an honor to be included as a part of the advisory team." |
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