David Morelli, Corporate Communications & Crisis Management
What do you do?
I help organizations promote and protect their brand, products and people. In particular, I help manage issues and crises that could blow up, or already have, and threaten to damage your reputation and business.
Area of expertise:
- Corporate communications (strategy, planning, execution)
- Reputation protection and crisis/issues management
- Executive coaching (leadership, media, presentation)
- Thought Leadership platforms
- Internal communications
How do you help organizations?
I help organizations use communications as a strategic business lever – to raise their profile, protect their reputation and grow their sales.
A specialty is helping manage issues and crisis situations. I employ a proven, disciplined and comprehensive approach. It gets to the heart of the issue and guides the potential paths forward – all designed to help management make faster decisions and take immediate actions. At the same time, I lead the development of corporate positioning and responses, and coach executives on communicating with confidence to reassure anxious employees, customers, investors, board members, etc.
My most successful issues management wins are the ones you never hear about. They are managed deftly, behind the scenes, with no public disclosure or blowback.
Top Experience/Previous Interim Placements:
My experience lends itself to short-term, executive-level challenges. I’ve led strategic initiatives and worked with management teams across a variety of industries (McKinsey & Company, Scotiabank, IBM, Mastercard, The Co-Operators and Intel). My senior roles inside TD Bank and Tim Hortons allowed me the privilege of working alongside some of the most respected executives in Canada.
A recent placement was as interim VP, Communications with AIMIA/Aeroplan, to help manage an unprecedented series of business and reputation crises. An activist board attack, resignation of a CEO, appointment of a new CEO and an unsolicited takeover bid by Air Canada – all in three months. I worked together with senior management to develop multiple communications strategies and stakeholder messaging. In the middle of these chaotic disruptions, I co-led the development and execution of the company’s public AGM together with Legal and Investor Relations teams.
What clients say about me:
“David helped us successfully manage a number of business and reputation challenges during a time of disruption for Aimia. He worked with the executive team to help guide our communications strategies and responses to a variety of key stakeholders. His experience, collaborative leadership, and quality work were highly valued.”
Vincent Timpano, Former President, Aimia/Aeroplan
Your superpower for managing through a crisis:
Focus, discipline, composure, and the ability to lead management through the fire with confidence and resolve. Crisis situations are not for the timid – it takes courage, bold actions and inspiring communications to protect your organization’s reputation and rebuild trust and credibility.
Top Experience/Previous Interim Placements:
I carry the battle scars of crisis management experience working at some of the most respected brands in Canada, including senior roles at TD Bank and Tim Hortons.
Most recently, I was brought in as interim VP, Communications by AIMIA/Aeroplan to help manage an unprecedented series of business and corporate reputation crises. An activist board attack, resignation of a CEO, appointment of a new CEO and an unsolicited takeover bid by Air Canada – all in three months. I worked alongside senior management to develop multiple communications strategies and stakeholder messaging. In the middle of these chaotic disruptions, I co-led the development and execution of the company’s public AGM with Legal and Investor Relations teams.
Other things you should know about me:
I’m a former award-winning journalist, taught the first post-graduate social media course in Canada, play hockey year round and refuse to cancel my weekly hard copy of the Sunday NY Times.
Your superpower for managing through a crisis:
Focus, discipline, composure, and the ability to lead management through the fire with confidence and resolve. Crisis situations are not for the timid – it takes courage, bold actions and inspiring communications to protect the reputation of executives, the organization and your business.