Maybe they were hybrid jets

By on November 21st, 2008 In Advice

autoceosWhen the CEO’s of the big three American auto makers landed on Capitol Hill this week with their hats in their hands looking for a handout from the American people, it wasn’t lost on most observers that they flew to Washington in private jets. Rep. Gary Ackerman, D-New York, called it a delicious irony. Not me — I’d call it one of the dumbest PR moves in history.

Where was their corporate communications counsel? Or perhaps they got counsel but didn’t care. I’ve been a corporate communications executive at three Fortune 100 companies so I know how hard it can be to get heard in these situations, but surely someone with an APR or an ABC (or hell, even a PR student) could have seen this disaster coming and warned somone.

Talk about an opportunity missed. My trainer at the YMCA worked for Chrysler for 30 years and this morning he had a thought. Remember, he’s not a PR pro. What if the three of them got in a prototype GM Volt or some other electric or hybrid car and commuted together to Washington. The press could have followed them, and they would have made a strong statement upon reaching congress. Ah, a little contrition goes a long way when you want the public on your side. Instead, after this bonehead move, the majority of Americans think the big three deserve to go bankrupt. Could a snazzy little PR move have changed public perception. You bet your APR!

Comments

Mike Padgett Says:
November 21st, 2008 at 10:15 am

Follow your thought: The U.S. automaker execs should personally drive their “green” vehicles across the country to promote sales.

Those vehicles’ shortcomings and advantages would become obvious during such a trip.

Dan Wool Says:
November 21st, 2008 at 10:16 am

PR reflects operations – this shouldn’t have been a surprise.

Jim Veihdeffer Says:
November 21st, 2008 at 10:42 am

As a commentator on Ragan’s site noted, it’s not about the jets. A private jet is often the most effective way for executives to travel when you consider airport waiting times, the opportunity to do business en route and a myriad other solid business reasons.

That said, the executives could have still made a statement by flying to National (DCA) or Dulles (IAD) and then driving to DC in a car of their choice.

Fact is, Fortune 100 execs travel in aircraft like the G-IV and Citation X for good reason, just as the president travels in Air Force One – they are literally “offices in the air.”

Their PR rep made the big gaffe by trying to frame the bizjet travel as an “employee safety issue” rather than a cost-effective way for a group of the nation’s top executives to go to the most important meeting of their lives.

It probably wouldn’t have mattered if they had hitched a ride on a crop duster or a Beverly Hillbillies-style farm wagon, someone would have questioned their fancy shoes.

The car execs are practically in a no-win situation that has been of their own devising for 40 years.

Jackie Wright Says:
November 21st, 2008 at 2:40 pm

As a past employee of General Motors, I can honestly say that these corporations operate like dinosaurs! Even worse than the private jets are the obnoxious handouts these companies give to the UAW. Check out this article that ran in today’s Detroit Free Press. http://www.freep.com/article/20081121/COL10/81121021. It’s high time the big three stop acting invincible and do all that they can to become profitable! Step 1: Start making cars that people actually want to buy.

Valley PR Blog » Blog Archive » It Wasn’t Exactly Rocket Science Says:
December 2nd, 2008 at 9:34 am

[...] that I’m a PR genius or anything, but this was my idea. Seriously, why didn’t they do this the first [...]

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