BMW has cruised past Google and Disney to top RepTrak's annual ranking of global corporate reputations.
The German automaker, which led the ranking in 2013, sits ahead of rival Daimler at No. 3. Bill McAndrews, VP and head of group corporate communications, credited the company's communication with stakeholders about what it does as a corporate citizen, as well as its promotion of both products and experts within the company.
The Walt Disney Co., which topped the ranking last year, fell to No. 6 as Google remained cemented in the No. 2 slot. Daimler moved up five slots since last year while Lego entered the top 5 from No. 9 a year ago.
Lego, which got a huge PR boost from "The Lego Movie" in 2014, earned the top reputation for North America, followed by Amazon, Kellogg's, Google and BMW.
Sony, which faced a difficult year amid a hacking scandal, dropped from No. 5 to No. 9 while Apple slipped a notch to No. 8.
The Reputation Institute said it conducted more than 61,000 interviews for the annual study, weighing innovation, leadership, governance, citizenship, workplace, performance, and products/services.
RI CEO Jamie Bedard said the turmoil of the post-financial crisis years has stabilized and corporate reputations are rebounding. He sees CSR in the form of governance, citizenship and workplace taking on more importance in companies' reputations.
Business leaders will face challenges in the upcoming year, some of which will come as a complete surprise, or beyond anyone's imagination.
Teneo has hired Philipp Grontzki, who is a 20-year veteran of corporate communications and financial journalism, as a managing director in its strategy and communications group.
Rowan Benecke, who co-founded Zeno Group and helmed Burson-Marsteller's tech practice, has joined McKinsey & Co as director of communications for North America.
BCW has named Golin's Matt Coldagelli EVP and leader of its corporate affairs practice in Chicago.
Abby Bailey, who headed corporate communications for Fedex in its Middle East, India and Africa region, has joined Teneo as managing director in Dubai.
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