Coutts’ reputation committee has destroyed its own reputation 

Nigel Farage has been cancelled by his bank because their reputation risk committee doesn’t approve of his political views and has branded him a ‘chancer’ and ‘grifter’. This matters to him because, having been cancelled by one bank, it is almost impossible to get an account with another – you are obliged upon opening a new account to reveal if you have ever been turned down or thrown out of a bank before. 

Reputation risk has become all the rage in recent years as companies, governments and individuals scramble to protect themselves from the fate suffered by trial by media and powerful regulators. PR firms and management consultancies charge high fees to advise people how to avoid the ‘Ratner moment’ or the fate of Bud Light where poor judgment wreaks havoc and destroys valuable businesses. 

I advise many charities, companies, a leading public school, a major defence firm and celebrities on protecting their hard-earned reputations.