Edelman and Catalyst are providing “behind-the-scenes” PR counsel for Under Armour, Diane Pelkey, VP-global communications and entertainment, told O’Dwyer’s.
She said UA’s internal PR staff is handling the bulk of the fallout, which follows the lousy performance of U.S. speedskaters in the Sochi Olympics.
Some American speedskaters blamed UA’s high-tech suits for their poor times and inability to medal.
The team switched to the UA suits that they wore during last month’s World Cup in Japan.
Pelkey, who says she runs point on all communications, strategy and statements, noted that many athletes who happily wear UA gear are perturbed with the controversy and reached out to the Baltimore-based marketer of performance footwear, apparel and accessories.
Endorsers such as Olympics gold medalists Lindsey Vonn, the injured skier who would have been the company’s biggest star at Sochi; swimmer Michael Phelps, along with Los Angeles Dodgers all-star Clayton Kershaw have taken to social media to praise UA.
The company recorded a 27 percent jump in revenues last year to $2.3B and a 26 percent surge in net income to $162.3M.
French West Vaughan has been helping US Speedskating cope with the racing uniform issue.
There’s a fine line between newsjacking and taking advantage, aka ambulance chasing. Our job as PR professionals is to tread it carefully.
PR firms need to be mindful of ways their work product may be protected by the attorney-client privilege whenever working with a client’s internal legal team or its external legal counsel.
Manuel Rocha, former US ambassador and intenational business advisor to LLYC, plans to plead guilty to charges that he was a secret agent for Cuba.
CEO mentoring is an often-overlooked aspect of why CEOs are able to make good decisions, and sometimes make bad ones—all of which intersects with the role and duties of a board. 
How organizations can anticipate, prepare and respond to crises in an increasingly complex world where a convergent landscape of global challenges, threats and risks seem to arrive at an unrelenting pace.
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