CEO’s and Social Media
I’m sure you’ve heard about the storm clouds gathering around Whole Foods and their CEO John Mackey regarding comments he made about healthcare reform. What was he thinking?
This is a man familiar with the trials and tribulation of social media. It was just a short time ago Mackey was sued for posting comments under an alias that resulted in a anti-trust violations.
Now, there is a Facebook group setting up a boycott – they have over 22,000 members in less then a week and growing fast.
What would happen if the CMO wrote the article Markey wrote? – they would loose their job, so why hasn’t Markey lost his. Who know that is for those in charge to decide.
Whether or not Markey looses his job, all CEO must remember they are no larger then their company and in most cases the general public, see them as the company. Personal opinion or not, when the CEO speaks, it is general considered they are speaking for the company. Social media and networks make this even more apparent. It’s not that we don’t think that they have personal opinions, but when our only connection is through the company, we see them as speaking for the company. We don’t know them personally, so we don’t expect personal opinions!
As social media and networks become more of our everyday life, CEO and business leaders will be seen less as individuals and more as visual extension of the corporation.
Beware those who don’t understand their role in this new 24/7/365 world where corporate and personal branding lines can easy get blurred if one is not careful. If you are a CEO and only known through your company dealings, your personal opinions may not be received all that well
What are you thoughts on CEO and expressing their personal opinions?
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