PR Week picks up on a Citigate report that puts numbers on the PR successes of CEOs in 2007.

The all-male, winning line-up?

Sir Stuart Rose, Marks and Spencer
Justin King, Sainsbury
Michael Grade, ITV
Willie Walsh, British Airways
Sir Terry Leahy, Tesco

And why is good PR so vital for these bosses?

‘The ability to communicate what is happening to investors and journalists is part of having a clear business strategy,’ said Citigate Dewe Rogerson CEO Jonathan Clare, whose agency co-authored the survey with Media Report. ‘It is about presenting strategy in a way that means you take people with you.’

Yes, you wouldn’t want them to say anything that might drive down the share price.

So how exactly did their stock do in 2007?

Marks & Spencer down 24%
Sainsbury up 2%
ITV down 18%
BA down 44%
Tesco up 12%

As I was saying, ‘PR – good for CEOs, lousy for share prices.’