The role of personal political values in commerce is a dicey one, and companies express opinions at their own risk. At the same time, a person who is open and honest about their convictions can be a valuable addition to the executive staff of a company. An executive recruitment firm can help you strike the right balance.
One of the most infamous examples of a CEO who paid the price for bringing politics into business is the Chick-fil-A debacle of 2012. It may seem like ancient history now, but two years ago, the man at the head of this fast food chain, Dan Cathy, became a major target of criticism for his opposition to same-sex marriage.
As one might predict, his opinion was not great for the public image of his company. In an interview with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Cathy has now said that he regrets the way this controversy played out and that he's learned from his mistakes.
"The bottom line is we have a responsibility here to keep the whole of the organization in mind and it has to take precedence over the personal expression and opinion on social issues," Cathy said.
On the other hand, the CEOs of other companies might be expected to speak out on certain issues. Mark Zuckerberg has, according to a recent Facebook post, even called President Obama himself over the matter of surveillance and internet security.
Ultimately, it might be important for your CEO to take a stand, but it needs to be done in a way that doesn't alienate customers. To accomplish this, you can turn to an executive search firm like YES Partners to find someone who is prepared for such a situation.
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