By Kevin McCauley
Swiss banking giant UBS has pulled the PR reins on a top U.S. executive with close ties to President Obama, issuing an edict for him to report all media inquiries to the bank’s press office, according to a report.
The New York Times reported June 21 that the high profile of Richard Wolf, an early Obama supported who vacations with the president and raises money for his campaign, “makes people’s hair stand on end” inside the bank.
The Times said most of the media requests to speak with Wolff since the edict have been rejected and called the PR sanction an unusual step.
The paper of record suggested Wolf has become “the public face of UBS in the United States,” likely annoying a higher ranking exec, Robert McCann, who is jockeying to run the bank.
The Times said, following a number of media profiles of Wolf, including the Wall Street Journal, the executive was sent an email reminding him of the bank’s media relations policies. “
You will clear any and all communications with the press as far in advance as possible,” the directive to Mr. Wolf read, according to the Times. “With respect to activities outside UBS you will, on a best-efforts basis, keep corporate communications informed.”
Marsha Askins is chief communications officer for UBS in the Americas.
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