Member Article

Legal & General boss named Footsie’s top communicator

Legal & General chief executive Nigel Wilson has been named the most influential communicator among Britain’s top bosses, according to a study published today.

Wilson’s role in the debates and campaigns on EU membership, social justice and environmental responsibility saw him ranked above Carolyn McCall (easyJet) and Gavin Patterson (BT) in the 2014 Footsie Influencer Report, produced by Aberfield Communications, which examines the profiles and communications activities of the FTSE-100’s chief executives.

Wilson’s number one ranking follows a high-profile year for the L&G boss. This summer he became the first Footsie chief to call for a renegotiation of Britain’s EU membership, sparking a debate that quickly rose up the political agenda.

He has also been an influential champion of social issues, writing by-lined pieces for national newspapers – and on his own blog – on social justice and environmental responsibility, and forming a partnership with Shelter to create a new ‘garden city’ in Kent.

“Campaigning for social change is not the typical behaviour of a financial services CEO,” said Phil Reed, managing director of Aberfield Communications. “Nigel Wilson has stepped well outside his industry boundaries to challenge politicians and business leaders alike.”

It is Aberfield’s third annual Footsie Influencer Report, and Nigel Wilson’s top spot for 2014 follows former Sainsbury’s boss Justin King in 2013 and Unilever chief Paul Polman in 2012.

The report looks at how their messages are communicated – and received – within their own industry sectors, the UK business community and beyond.

The rankings were produced by attaching weighted scores to each of the influencer criteria, taking into account the profile and behaviour that would normally be expected of a company and its CEO in that industry sector.

The 2014 Top Ten is:

1 Nigel Wilson Legal & General

2 Carolyn McCall easyJet (2013 position = 3rd)

3 Gavin Patterson BT

4 Lord Wolfson Next (2013 = 7th)

5 Moya Greene Royal Mail

6 Sir Martin Sorrell WPP (2013 = 4th)

7 Paul Polman Unilever (2013 position = 2nd)

8 Willie Walsh IAG (2013 position = 9th)

9 Ross McEwan RBS

10 Christopher Bailey Burberry

Second-placed Carolyn McCall, who was ranked third in 2013, continues to be the highest ranked female in the report. She’s been admired by journalists, staff and shareholders – and even her competitors – for the innovations at easyJet and for championing women in business.

Royal Mail’s Moya Greene is the other female CEO woman to be ranked. Greene has been an influential advocate for more women in Britain’s boardrooms, which has won her widespread support among key business commentators.

The report also highlights a correlation between influential CEOs and financial performance. In the year to 31 October 2014, the FTSE-100 rose by 2.75 per cent, but the combined share prices of the companies with the 10 most influential bosses rose by 7.18 per cent over the same period.

“Our research certainly suggests that being an influential communicator isn’t just good for the CEO’s profile, it’s also an indicator of the company’s financial health,” said Phil Reed.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Aberfield Communications .