Praise for the book
“Built around enduring principles and grounded in more than two decades of Steve’s experience working with major multinational firms, this is an important book that demonstrates how companies can strategically navigate today’s complex stakeholder society.”
The Honorable Curtis S. Chin, U.S. Ambassador to the Asian Development Bank (2007-2010)
“This book is packed full of practical examples on safeguarding reputations that even the most seasoned professionals can learn from, and the author’s extensive experience in this area is evident throughout each chapter. In business, trusted relationships are at the heart of everything we do and this book offers invaluable advice on how to maintain these relationships in an authentic and purposeful way. A must-read!”
Lynne Mulholland, General Manager, Group Corporate Affairs, The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels Limited (owner and operator of The Peninsula Hotels).
“Based on his long and distinguished career as a senior strategic communication leader, Stephen Thomas offers a deep dive into how to earn and protect corporate reputations, with a strong focus on strategic advice to the business on its decisions and actions. This book is both a useful reference guide and a compelling read.”
Roger Bolton, President, Page
About Stephen Thomas
Over more than 25 years, Stephen (“Steve”) Thomas has led programs designed to earn and protect corporate reputations.
In 2022, Steve established TAVO Advisory to help organisations achieve valued results by providing counsel on complex matters relating to reputation, trust and stakeholder engagement.
Steve was Head of Group Brand and Communications at AIA Group from 2012 to 2021. AIA, which is listed and headquartered in Hong Kong, is one of the world’s largest life insurers.
Prior to AIA, Steve was a Managing Director and Head of Corporate Affairs for Citigroup (“Citi”) in China.
Steve began his career at Burson-Marsteller (now Burson), a leading global public relations firm, working in the firm’s Melbourne and Hong Kong offices.
Steve’s professional recognition includes being named multiple times in PR Week’s Power Book list of the world’s most influential PR professionals as well as the Influence 100, Provoke Media’s annual compilation of the most influential in-house communicators around the world. In 2020, Steve was named the In-House Communications Professional of the Year by the Asia-Pacific Association of Communications Directors.
Steve is a Board Trustee of the Institute for Public Relations and from 2014 to 2020 he was Chairman of the Hong Kong chapter of the Arthur W. Page Society.
Services
Steve established TAVO to provide senior, discreet and independent counsel that helps corporate leaders in their efforts to prioritise, earn and protect the reputations that matter. Steve’s advisory work centres on support for Boards, CEOs, and business leaders including heads of Communication.
TAVO is underpinned by a deep commitment to building trusting relationships; by a dedication to going above and beyond to produce the right outcomes; and by a focus on discretion and confidentiality at all times.
Under the TAVO brand, Steve focuses on helping clients in the following areas:
+ Reputation Counsel and Strategy
An organisation has more than one reputation and not all of its reputations are equal at any particular point in time. TAVO helps clients to better understand what reputations matter to them most and how to engage their stakeholders/use their networks to earn their desired reputations to best effect.
+ Reputation Risk, Crisis and Issues Management
Counsel that helps organisations to be prepared ahead of time through scenario planning and the development of contingency plans against an array of reputation risks. TAVO also has extensive experience in the management of real time issues that represent a threat to the ability of the organisation to operate in an optimal fashion. These include cyber security threats, litigation, change management initiatives, geopolitics, among others.
+ Media Relations
TAVO leverages an extensive network of relationships with journalists to generate media coverage that is accurate, positive and that supports the wide reputation building goals of the client. In practice, this means giving clients ideas and opportunities that enable engagement with relevant journalists in order to deliver valued results.
+ Transactions
Transactions of any note are fraught with reputational risk. TAVO advises on a range of transactions, including M&A, IPOs, new partnerships, among others – in order to deliver a positive outcome. A source of senior communications advice for organisations navigating the complexities transactions pose – in the lead up to an announcement, for the announcement itself and in the phase after the announcement is made.
+ Executive Spokesperson Training
Customised training based on decades of experience preparing CEOs and other senior leaders to appear on broadcast television, speak to tier-one business and financial journalists, give keynote speeches at major global conferences as well as key moments of engagement with internal stakeholders.
+ Copywriting
A fundamental challenge for many organisations is the ability to produce narratives that coherently articulate a point of view on a particular subject. Based on extensive experience writing for Chairs, CEOs, and other senior leaders, TAVO provides a copywriting service for both written and verbal communications, including keynote speeches, opinion editorials, Annual Reports, ESG Reports and media materials.
+ Workshops
Training and workshops designed to further strengthen the Communications function of corporates. Subject matter includes ESG communications, reputation risk management, CEO profiling, employee communications, transaction communications and measuring impact.
Get in touch for a confidential discussion
Is your organisation striving to make a positive impact and needs help in any of these areas?