Imagine the unimaginable: in March 2011, the Czech Minister of Transportation announces on live TV that Skanska, one the biggest construction companies in the world, has not fulfilled contractural work and has accused them of poor worksmanship. Ewing PR was brought on as crisis communications advisors. The result of the project? The Minister resigned in embarrasment a month later.

1. Skanska
“Speaking Truth to Power”
Crisis communications, media advocacy
CASE
STUDY
“Ewing PR has a great ability to analyze and offer sound solutions to problems.
It's one of the very few agencies I've worked with who thinks about our
commercial bottom line and the long-term big picture, not just the immediate
communications issue.“
Lucie Nováková, Former Communications Director of Skanska a.s.

2. Without any warning, the Czech Minister of Transportation attacks one of the world’s
largest construction companies on a live news program.
His accusations of poor workmanship and bad faith business dealings surprise everyone –
including his own Highways Authority. At first, his party’s ‘anti-corruption’ platform seems
to provide the only credibility he needs.
CASE
STUDY
Imagine the Unthinkable:

3. THE
CHALLENGE
When this happened to Skanska in 2011,
they called Ewing PR. And quickly we agreed: these
empty accusations couldn’t go unchallenged.

4. Within 48 hours, we launched an aggressive
response - starting with an open letter to the
Minister, requesting an urgent meeting.
Calling his bluff, we asked that journalists be
invited along to ensure transparency.
THE
SOLUTION
The tables turned.
The Minister’s unfounded accusations couldn’t withstand public scrutiny.
Within weeks, members of his own party began to raise concerns about his
ethics. Less than a month after his initial ambush interview, the Minister
was forced to resign.

5. THE
RESULTS
• Strong relationship re-established with the Czech Highway Authority
• Won legal injunction to remove the Minister’s slanderous highway signs
• Subsequent opinion polls showed that journalists believed Skanska had acted
appropriately in face of the Minister’s corrupt allegations
• Skanska CEO Dan Ťok was awarded the American Chamber of Commerce ‘Wings
Award’ for encouraging greater transparency in public tenders

6. • Global Sabre Award 2012
• Central and Eastern Europe
Sabre Award 2012
Ewing PR‘s successful crisis
support for Skanska earned:
AWARDS