By Greg Hazley
Dublin-based PR firm Corporate Reputations has compiled a public survey of the top corporate images in Ireland, a country ravaged by the global financial crisis but where citizens still show some confidence in at least one government institution.
Top 10 Corporate Reputations
in Ireland
1. Google (86.33)
2. Cadbury (85.79)
3. Kellogg's (82.07)
4. Nokia (80.64)
5. Volkswagen (80.34)
6. Apple (80.27)
7. eBay (78.90)
8. (tie) An Post (78.88)
8. (tie) Marks & Spencer (78.88)
10. Smyths [toys] (78.41) |
Notably, the state-owned Irish postal service, An Post, landed at No. 8 overall and tops among native Irish companies showing citizens have some good feelings in a state-run operation in the wake of the country's $112B bailout and near financial collapse.
But financial institutions predictably did not escape the scorn of the public, according to the PR firm's tally.
The Bank of Ireland, Allied Irish Bank, and Anglo Irish Bank landed at the bottom of the ranking at 114, 118, and 119, respectively, a reflection of current events.
Bank of Ireland has fallen more than 15 points in the ranking since 2009, while the Irish Nationwide Building Society, a mortgage lender being shut down by the state, landed at #117.
When asked whether various sectors in the country were "helping or hurting you," insurance and banking came out at the bottom.
Suspicion was also evident in the survey's finding that more people said they trust company advertising than what CEOs tell reporters (see chart at right).
Even fewer said they trust what companies say on their websites.
Irish respondents put most stock in companies' products/services, citizenship and governance over factors like innovation, leadership and performance in rating reputation. What does a good ranking mean for a company?
The firm asked respondents if they would "give the benefit of the doubt" if a company was in a crisis.
Among the top 10 companies, nearly 60% responding favorably, but among the bottom 10 more than half had a negative response to the question.
The full ranking can be accessed here. |