David Fuscus Named 2020 Crisis Executive of the Year
Top Crisis Strategist Hailed for Work on the Pandemic, Presidential Campaign Issues, Aviation Accidents, Social Justice Issues and the Cancel Culture
In the Year-of-Crisis, Xenophon Strategies’ President and CEO David Fuscus was named the Crisis Management Executive of the Year for 2020 by the Best in Biz Awards, an independent awards program judged by prominent members of the media. Fuscus designed programs and strategies that helped clients manage the public attention from the year’s top global stories. Clients faced serious issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the #BLM and #MeToo movements, aviation accidents, and the harsh spotlight of the Presidential campaign.
“In this wild year, it’s amazing to see companies still innovating, adapting, and thriving,” said Christopher Null, Wired magazine reporter and a judge for the 10 Best in Biz Awards. “There’s so much in the business world that is inspirational right now.”
Pandemic Response: Xenophon Medicine & Science
Among the programs Fuscus led was the development of a new healthcare practice within the firm. The new initiative was to help clients respond to the rapidly spreading coronavirus pandemic using tested crisis communications strategies. Fuscus created Xenophon Medicine & Science by recruiting three world-class epidemiologists to provide trustworthy scientific information for business continuity and recovery. Since March, the practice has been highly sought after, attracting the attention of numerous existing and new clients including Caesars Entertainment, the casino company with 68,000 employees.
U.S. Presidential Election: Joe Biden’s Brother Under Fire
When the Presidential primaries were unfolding, Fuscus served as the communications strategist and spokesperson for Jim Biden, the brother of President Joe Biden. Jim Biden was involved in high profile litigation in which the plaintiff brashly attempted to force a settlement by threatening damaging press coverage. Because of the Ukraine and Hunter Biden issues, the prospect of publicity that could hurt then-candidate Joe Biden’s campaign was real. Fuscus led an aggressive crisis effort that navigated intense national media coverage and illuminated the lawsuit for what it was: frivolous and without merit.
The Horse Racing Industry Threaten by Drug Use
In late 2019, there was a tragic spike of racehorse deaths at California’s Santa Anita Park that received intensive national attention and threatened the existence of horse racing in America. Fuscus designed a campaign for The Jockey Club, the leading body overseeing the sport, to highlight the group’s advocacy for legislation to protect horses . The effort was a key part of building national support for the Horse Racing Integrity and Safety Act which passed Congress and was signed into law in the waning days of 2020. The bipartisan legislation will create the first national anti-doping agency to get drugs out of horse racing and protect these majestic athletes. Fuscus served as a spokesperson for the effort throughout 2020. The campaign was heavily covered in the national media with Fuscus taking a leading communications role such as in this article from The New York Times.
Aviation Accident – Pakistan Airlines 8303
Xenophon has served as Airbus America’s communications agency for 20 years, and Fuscus’ team is involved in any accident involving an Airbus aircraft. In May of 2020, Pakistan Airlines flight 8303 crashed in Karachi, and Fuscus provided experience-laced communications counsel honed from working 41 aviation accidents and crisis-related events for Airbus and other clients over the past two decades.
Social Justice and the Cancel Culture
During 2019 and 2020, Fuscus helped guide several clients through two of the most highly contentious and explosive social justice issues facing the country today: #BLM and #MeToo. This included strategic counsel to organizations which were both subject to misplaced criticism in relation to those movements, as well as clients seeking to advocate against racial discrimination, sexual harassment, and other basic human rights.
“Xenophon is a firm with extensive and specialized expertise in crisis communications and management,” said Fuscus. “This was one of the most challenging years in our business as the media careened from one outrage to the next on an almost daily basis. I am proud of the team at Xenophon and how we helped clients navigate a chaotic and intimidating 2020, all during a pandemic and working remotely.”
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About Xenophon Strategies
Founded in 2000 by David Fuscus, Xenophon Strategies is at the top of PR firms in DC, the U.S., Europe and Asia. The firm is widely acclaimed as a pioneer in advanced public communications. Xenophon works with some of the world’s best-known companies, associations, industries and governments.
About Best in Biz Awards
Since 2011, Best in Biz Awards has been the only independent business awards program judged by a who’s who of prominent reporters and editors from top-tier publications from North America and around the world.
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