GlobeNewswire Inc | Dec 8, 2021 07:30AM EST

December 08, 2021

WASHINGTON, Dec. 08, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FTI Consulting, Inc. (NYSE: FCN) today announced the results of a new survey, CEOLeadership Redefined, that finds stakeholders are increasingly turning to CEOs for leadership on issues that go beyond the business.

FTI Consultings Strategic Communications segment conducted surveys among a nationally representative sample of U.S. working professionals and institutional investors. The research was designed to understand the expectations these critical stakeholders have of CEOs amid a period of political and social unrest during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The challenging events of the past two years have made clear that society is demanding a different kind of leadership from a new generation of CEOs. This research proves that important stakeholders for businesses, including employees and investors, are paying close attention to not only what CEOs say, but also the actions they take within their own businesses to address societal issues, said Brent McGoldrick, a Senior Managing Director and Americas Head of the Digital & Insights practice within the Strategic Communications segment at FTI Consulting.

Research revealed thatinvestors and working professionals strongly believe that CEOs must focus on people and the planet, in addition to profit. Increasingly, stakeholders are looking to CEOs to address and navigate issues that go beyond the business from climate change to social justice to publicand employeehealth.Further, howCEOs address these issues through their words and actions can positively or negatively impact a companys reputationandtheir own favorability.

Key findings from the survey include:

-- Investors (82%) and professionals (75%) overwhelmingly agree that CEOs must take a stand on issues of importance. -- Investors (92%) and professionals (77%) believe that what a CEO says about societal issues impacts their overall opinion of the company. -- Engagement with societal issues helped to improve CEO favorability with 58% ofinvestors and 45% ofprofessionals saying that their opinion of CEOs is more favorable as a result of their engagement in dialogue around societal issues. -- The ways in which CEOs handled the COVID-19 pandemic increased favorability the most, with six in 10 professionals (59%) and investors (60%) having a more favorable opinion of CEOs based on theirresponse. -- Professionalsbelieve that CEOs must prioritize thephysical health and mental well-beingof employeesmore thanany otherbusiness issue(34% of respondents indicated as top priority), followed by diversity, equity and inclusion (19%).

Were at a critical moment where CEOs must redefine what it means to be effective business leaders moving forward, said Christine DiBartolo, a Senior Managing Director and Americas Head of the Corporate Reputation practice within the Strategic Communications segment at FTI Consulting. Taking on complex societal issues, demonstrating strong corporate purpose and values, and regularly communicating are now critical components of the CEOs job.

This is the first installment of FTI Consultings CEO Leadership Redefined series. FTI Consulting will host a webinar on Thursday, December 16 to review survey results and what they mean for CEO communications strategies register here. Future installments will dive deeper into topics like ESG and sustainability, diversity and inclusion, and political advocacy.

About this surveyFTI Consultings Strategic Communications segment conductedasurvey across the United States among1,012 employed professionals of companies greater than 250 employees, as well as 253 institutional investors. The survey was conducted online between September 10-18, 2021.

AboutFTI ConsultingFTI Consulting, Inc.is a global business advisory firm dedicated to helping organizations managechange, mitigate risk and resolve disputes: financial, legal, operational, political & regulatory, reputational and transactional. With more than 6,600 employees located in 29 countries,FTI Consultingprofessionals work closely with clients to anticipate, illuminate and overcome complex business challenges and make the most of opportunities. The Company generated$2.46 billionin revenues during fiscal year 2020. In certain jurisdictions, FTI Consultings services are provided through distinct legal entities that are separately capitalized and independently managed. For more information, visitwww.fticonsulting.comand connect with us onTwitter (@FTIConsulting),FacebookandLinkedIn.

FTI Consulting, Inc. 555 12th Street NW Washington, DC 20004 +1.202.312.9100

Investor Contact: Mollie Hawkes+1.617.747.1791mollie.hawkes@fticonsulting.com

Media Contact: Matthew Bashalany+1.617.897.1545matthew.bashalany@fticonsulting.com

Elly (Burrows) DiLeonardi+1.630.776.8343elly.dileonardi@fticonsulting.com