Paul MacKenzie-Cummins
@pmackenzie-cummins.bsky.social
Founder & MD of Clearly PR - specialists in ESG/B Corps comms, crisis management, and executive profiling/personal branding. B Corp since 2021, which is nice.
Alastair Campbell performing the speech he’d write for Sir Kier Starmer if he was handling the PM’s comms. It is what a strong leader would sound like. Superb. www.instagram.com/reel/DRH9HiO...
The Rest Is Politics on Instagram: "Taking the podium as Keir Starmer, Alastair Campbell delivers a speech on the BBC."
6,598 likes, 262 comments - restispolitics on November 16, 2025: "Taking the podium as Keir Starmer, Alastair Campbell delivers a speech on the BBC.".
www.instagram.com
November 16, 2025 at 8:16 PM
Alastair Campbell performing the speech he’d write for Sir Kier Starmer if he was handling the PM’s comms. It is what a strong leader would sound like. Superb. www.instagram.com/reel/DRH9HiO...
Breaking Brand podcast (5 min listen): In just 24 hours, Shein has turned a reputation management challenge from hell into a potentially positive lasting legacy that could earn them even more loyal customers. Listen via Substack: breakingbrand.substack.com/p/shein-coul...
Shein could shine after exemplary handling of PR crisis
In just 24 hours, the online retailer has turned a reputation management challenge from hell into a potentially positive lasting legacy that could earn them even more loyal customers.
breakingbrand.substack.com
November 4, 2025 at 2:14 PM
Breaking Brand podcast (5 min listen): In just 24 hours, Shein has turned a reputation management challenge from hell into a potentially positive lasting legacy that could earn them even more loyal customers. Listen via Substack: breakingbrand.substack.com/p/shein-coul...
“Not racist, honest.” Says Reform UK. Despite her backtracking, the Runcorn and Helsby MP’s faux pas is both repulsive and shows her to be an utterly incompetent media spokesperson for a Party committed to publicly denying its racist foundations.
October 26, 2025 at 11:03 AM
“Not racist, honest.” Says Reform UK. Despite her backtracking, the Runcorn and Helsby MP’s faux pas is both repulsive and shows her to be an utterly incompetent media spokesperson for a Party committed to publicly denying its racist foundations.
Latest from the Breaking Brand podcast: Prince Andrew suffers King's wrath and reputation annihilation (3mins 38 secs). Put t'kettle on: breakingbrand.substack.com/p/prince-and...
Prince Andrew suffers King's wrath and reputation annihilation
Prince Andrew has been stripped of his title the Duke of York. His reputation has been shattered, his career and public profile have now been consigned to the history books.
breakingbrand.substack.com
October 22, 2025 at 3:44 PM
Latest from the Breaking Brand podcast: Prince Andrew suffers King's wrath and reputation annihilation (3mins 38 secs). Put t'kettle on: breakingbrand.substack.com/p/prince-and...
Can Prince Andrew pull off one of the greatest reputation-rebounds of the last decade? www.clearlypr.co.uk/insights/the...
The final chapter? Why Prince Andrew’s reputational collapse signals ‘No way back’
Clearly PR's Paul MacKenzie-Cummins answers: Can Prince Andrew pull off one of the greatest reputation-rebounds of the last decade?
www.clearlypr.co.uk
October 20, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Can Prince Andrew pull off one of the greatest reputation-rebounds of the last decade? www.clearlypr.co.uk/insights/the...
Great to be quoted by LBC today alongside legendary BBC Royal Correspondent, Jennie Bond - talking about the Duke of York's chances of reputation redemption: www.lbc.co.uk/article/prin...
Shamed Prince Andrew's basic day-to-day life and routine | LBC
Royal has two hobbies that keep him occupied in his life in exile
www.lbc.co.uk
October 20, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Great to be quoted by LBC today alongside legendary BBC Royal Correspondent, Jennie Bond - talking about the Duke of York's chances of reputation redemption: www.lbc.co.uk/article/prin...
Never envisaged writing a post on tractors, but I promise this is a good 'un - if real-time reputation management and crisis comms stories are your thing. Red Tractor's reputation is under scrutiny after misleading environmental claims:
www.clearlypr.co.uk/insights/red...
www.clearlypr.co.uk/insights/red...
Red Tractor reputation at risk over misleading eco messaging
The UK’s advertising watchdog, the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), has upheld a complaint that Red Tractor, a food assurance scheme,…
www.clearlypr.co.uk
October 15, 2025 at 9:41 AM
Never envisaged writing a post on tractors, but I promise this is a good 'un - if real-time reputation management and crisis comms stories are your thing. Red Tractor's reputation is under scrutiny after misleading environmental claims:
www.clearlypr.co.uk/insights/red...
www.clearlypr.co.uk/insights/red...
Great to be quoted in this career advice piece for STYLIST magazine - a focus on why a promotion is not always as forthcoming as people might wish for it to be: www.stylist.co.uk/life/careers...
From team dynamics to bad attitudes, these are 13 real reasons why you’re not getting a payrise
People may often hear that a promotion isn’t possible due to budgets, but in some cases, there’s a lot more to the story than just the bottom line.
www.stylist.co.uk
October 10, 2025 at 7:52 AM
Great to be quoted in this career advice piece for STYLIST magazine - a focus on why a promotion is not always as forthcoming as people might wish for it to be: www.stylist.co.uk/life/careers...
“Trump says,” but have Israel and Hamas? With the Nobel Peace Prize judges deciding this year’s reecipient today I cannot help but wonder if Trump has called this now to boost his chances of receiving the award he is so desperate to get his hands on. Is he that crass…
October 9, 2025 at 6:08 AM
“Trump says,” but have Israel and Hamas? With the Nobel Peace Prize judges deciding this year’s reecipient today I cannot help but wonder if Trump has called this now to boost his chances of receiving the award he is so desperate to get his hands on. Is he that crass…
Love this from our Annie: "... too often, organisations default to hollow ‘non-apologies,’ which express regret that customers are upset, rather than taking responsibility for the negative action itself." Great perspective on effective crisis comms management: www.clearlypr.co.uk/insights/sor...
Sorry: The five-letter word that is so hard to say
Learn the four non-negotiable steps for a successful crisis apology. See how Zara, Next, and M&S handled recent scandals and which strategy worked.
www.clearlypr.co.uk
October 8, 2025 at 3:19 PM
Love this from our Annie: "... too often, organisations default to hollow ‘non-apologies,’ which express regret that customers are upset, rather than taking responsibility for the negative action itself." Great perspective on effective crisis comms management: www.clearlypr.co.uk/insights/sor...
Latest audio (with transcript) on Substack, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts: Overrated: Why Tylenol vs. Trump is a flawed example of crisis comms and should not be hailed as being a gold standard approach to crisis comms. It isn't. Listen now (3 mins): breakingbrand.substack.com/p/overrated-...
Overrated: Why Tylenol vs. Trump is a flawed example of crisis comms
Both the media and PR industry have hailed the response to President Trump's damaging comments as being a gold standard approach to crisis comms. It isn't.
breakingbrand.substack.com
October 1, 2025 at 2:54 PM
Latest audio (with transcript) on Substack, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts: Overrated: Why Tylenol vs. Trump is a flawed example of crisis comms and should not be hailed as being a gold standard approach to crisis comms. It isn't. Listen now (3 mins): breakingbrand.substack.com/p/overrated-...
[LISTEN on Substack] As reputations go, Sarah, the Duchess of York's was one of the most enduring. But 40 years in the public domain have come to an end because of misplaced ethics and a selfish focus on personal advancement: breakingbrand.substack.com/p/no-way-bac...
No way back: Fergie's ferocious fall from grace seals reputation fate
As reputations go, the Duchess of York's was one of the most enduring. But 40 years in the public domain have come to an end because of misplaced ethics and a selfish focus on personal advancement.
breakingbrand.substack.com
September 23, 2025 at 11:18 AM
[LISTEN on Substack] As reputations go, Sarah, the Duchess of York's was one of the most enduring. But 40 years in the public domain have come to an end because of misplaced ethics and a selfish focus on personal advancement: breakingbrand.substack.com/p/no-way-bac...
Mitchum found itself in an almighty reputation storm of its own making last week. Our Annie takes us through what happened, how the brand reacted, and why the whole sorry affair blew up in Mitchum's face: www.clearlypr.co.uk/insights/wha...
September 22, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Mitchum found itself in an almighty reputation storm of its own making last week. Our Annie takes us through what happened, how the brand reacted, and why the whole sorry affair blew up in Mitchum's face: www.clearlypr.co.uk/insights/wha...
A specialist IP law firm has been accused of plagiarising tennis superstar Serena Williams' jewellery brand logo. They deny it, but will anyone buy it? prpaul.substack.com/p/when-rebra...
When rebranding prompts rewiring of reputation: A lesson in IP, irony, and oversight
A specialist IP law firm has been accused of plagiarising tennis superstar Serena Williams' jewellery brand logo. They deny it, but will anyone buy it?
prpaul.substack.com
September 19, 2025 at 12:38 PM
A specialist IP law firm has been accused of plagiarising tennis superstar Serena Williams' jewellery brand logo. They deny it, but will anyone buy it? prpaul.substack.com/p/when-rebra...
Great to be quoted extensively in the Daily Mail today. Talking about how Costa Coffee has failed to create the brand experience that customers are increasingly seeking and finding in smaller independents: www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/artic...
Branding experts reveal: Where did it all go wrong for Costa?
Costa 's reign as the stalwart British coffeeshop appears to be wobbling as experts say the 'predictable, bland and outdated' brand is losing customers to trendy artisanal cafes.
www.dailymail.co.uk
September 8, 2025 at 7:40 AM
Great to be quoted extensively in the Daily Mail today. Talking about how Costa Coffee has failed to create the brand experience that customers are increasingly seeking and finding in smaller independents: www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/artic...
Good to be quoted in the latest PRWeek focus on hiring within the PR sector. Feeling rather fortunate to be recruiting once again given the challenges our industry is facing: www.prweek.co.uk/article/1930...
‘We’re being ultra-cautious on recruitment’ – agency bosses on hiring
PR agency leaders give their verdict on the state of the recruitment market and their approach to hiring.
www.prweek.co.uk
September 4, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Good to be quoted in the latest PRWeek focus on hiring within the PR sector. Feeling rather fortunate to be recruiting once again given the challenges our industry is facing: www.prweek.co.uk/article/1930...
You will almost certainly think twice about taking your phone with you to the loo after reading this: Scrolling ‘raises risk of haemorrhoids more than straining’.
www.thetimes.com/article/ff11...
www.thetimes.com/article/ff11...
Scrolling ‘raises risk of haemorrhoids more than straining’
While anecdotal evidence had linked smartphone use on the toilet with an increased risk of piles, few studies had explored this in detail until now
www.thetimes.com
September 4, 2025 at 4:42 AM
You will almost certainly think twice about taking your phone with you to the loo after reading this: Scrolling ‘raises risk of haemorrhoids more than straining’.
www.thetimes.com/article/ff11...
www.thetimes.com/article/ff11...
Looking forward to going to this tomorrow - @BCorpUK 's B Social Breakfast at the British Library: www.tickettailor.com/events/blabu...
Sold out – B Social Breakfast - London – The British Library, 96 Euston Road, London
B Social Breakfast - London – The British Library, 96 Euston Road, London, Thu 4 Sep 2025 - Join the B Lab UK team for our first ever breakfast B Social hosted by Origin Coffee. We're super excited to...
www.tickettailor.com
September 3, 2025 at 8:48 AM
Looking forward to going to this tomorrow - @BCorpUK 's B Social Breakfast at the British Library: www.tickettailor.com/events/blabu...
Several UK high street retailers are facing serious financial difficulties. The role PR plays during such testing times is often undervalued yet is critical to maximising brand equity and retaining customer loyalty.
www.clearlypr.co.uk/insights/the...
www.clearlypr.co.uk/insights/the...
The high-wire reputation act: Why high-profile struggling businesses need PR
The challenge for struggling businesses is how to protect their reputation and maintain customer trust and loyalty until the storm passes.
www.clearlypr.co.uk
August 28, 2025 at 9:51 AM
Several UK high street retailers are facing serious financial difficulties. The role PR plays during such testing times is often undervalued yet is critical to maximising brand equity and retaining customer loyalty.
www.clearlypr.co.uk/insights/the...
www.clearlypr.co.uk/insights/the...
New podcast: Sanex: Intentional or unintentional - the damage is done, forgiveness will not be forthcoming (3mins 56 secs... just enough time to make a cuppa and sip while listening!). Click here: prpaul.substack.com/p/sanex-inte...
Sanex: Intentional or unintentional - the damage is done, forgiveness will not be forthcoming
Four minutes on why the Sanex shower gel ad ban was right and how brands can avoid similar missteps.
prpaul.substack.com
August 22, 2025 at 1:34 PM
New podcast: Sanex: Intentional or unintentional - the damage is done, forgiveness will not be forthcoming (3mins 56 secs... just enough time to make a cuppa and sip while listening!). Click here: prpaul.substack.com/p/sanex-inte...
Sanex has joined the long list of major brands facing ad bans for campaigns that are clearly insensitive and lack both cultural and emotional intelligence. Here are the lessons that brands need to adhere, or risk irreparable reputational damage: www.clearlypr.co.uk/insights/san...
August 20, 2025 at 12:14 PM
Sanex has joined the long list of major brands facing ad bans for campaigns that are clearly insensitive and lack both cultural and emotional intelligence. Here are the lessons that brands need to adhere, or risk irreparable reputational damage: www.clearlypr.co.uk/insights/san...
Feels like this is a post I could very easily schedule to be shared on repeat, such is the prevalence of brands publicly apologising after an expensive ad or PR campaign draws significant backlash from customers. Today’s guilty party: Swatch www.clearlypr.co.uk/insights/cut...
Cut, paste, apologise: Swatch and the global epidemic of tone-deaf branding
Swatch faces reputation crisis with ad campaign aimed at China market showing 'slanted eyes' model. Thoughtless, tone-deaf, and stupid? Yes. Costly, too.
www.clearlypr.co.uk
August 18, 2025 at 8:50 AM
Feels like this is a post I could very easily schedule to be shared on repeat, such is the prevalence of brands publicly apologising after an expensive ad or PR campaign draws significant backlash from customers. Today’s guilty party: Swatch www.clearlypr.co.uk/insights/cut...
If you are banging your head against the wall because your current purpose-led messaging isn’t resonating with customers, chances are you are prioritising the wrong message: www.clearlypr.co.uk/insights/gre...
August 8, 2025 at 11:13 AM
If you are banging your head against the wall because your current purpose-led messaging isn’t resonating with customers, chances are you are prioritising the wrong message: www.clearlypr.co.uk/insights/gre...
In just four years, GB News has risen to become the UK’s most-watched TV news channel - overtaking BBC News and Sky News. This is a huge turning point for news broadcasting and a rocket up the proverbial for the PR industry: www.clearlypr.co.uk/insights/gb-...
August 7, 2025 at 9:10 AM
In just four years, GB News has risen to become the UK’s most-watched TV news channel - overtaking BBC News and Sky News. This is a huge turning point for news broadcasting and a rocket up the proverbial for the PR industry: www.clearlypr.co.uk/insights/gb-...
August 6, 2025 at 2:21 PM