Our team

Callum Laidlaw

Partner
Callum has worked in communications consultancy for over 16 years after starting his career as a government policy advisor. At Kekst CNC, Callum has helped lead our crisis readiness and cybersecurity offers globally, as well as working across wider corporate reputation and public affairs mandates.

An expert in crisis preparedness, Callum has advised leadership on crisis manuals, board-level simulation and training exercises, as well as supporting on many live cybersecurity incidents. He has worked with a wide range of businesses across sectors, with a particular focus on energy and industrials, FMCGs and real assets, advising on a variety of business-critical challenges including misconduct cases, product recalls, industrial relations disputes and wider policy challenges, and has experience working across UK and EU markets.

An expert in crisis preparedness, Callum has advised leadership on crisis manuals, board-level simulation and training exercises, as well as supporting on many live cybersecurity incidents. He has worked with a wide range of businesses across sectors, with a particular focus on energy and industrials, FMCGs and real assets, advising on a variety of business-critical challenges including misconduct cases, product recalls, industrial relations disputes and wider policy challenges, and has experience working across UK and EU markets.

“Our culture celebrates and encourages consultants to be innovative, collaborative and to develop broader networks. It recognizes that well-rounded individuals make the best advisors and helps them achieve their goals.”


Prior to joining Kekst CNC Callum worked for six years at Burson- Marsteller where he specialised in corporate reputation and crisis communications mandates. He has additional expertise as a former Councillor and Parliamentary Candidate, and as a Non-Executive Director of Transport for Edinburgh, where he chaired its Audit and Risk Committee.

Callum graduated from the University of St Andrews with an MA (Hons) in International Relations.


Experience

Crisis Management and Preparedness

  • Conducted multiple physical and virtual crisis simulation exercises using the Situation Room tool for clients across industries and markets in the UK and overseas.
  • Supported clients through crises including food contamination, industrial incidents, site closures and multi-market recalls of potentially hazardous products.
  • Conducted after-action reviews of issues management processes.

Public Affairs

  • Worked closely with Kekst CNC Brussels to guide clients on how to respond to EU legislation in the FMCG, TMT and energy sectors.
  • Advised clients on navigating the UK political landscape, with a particular focus on local government and communities.

Cybersecurity

  • Developed breach response partnerships with leading insurers and law firms and ran training sessions in conjunction with cyber forensics provider NCC.
  • Supported multiple corporates through the breach response and notification process including media, customer, regulator and political communications.

Corporate Reputation and Positioning

  • Advised clients in the commodities and manufacturing sector on the development of sustainable procurement and traceability strategies.
  • Supported clients in FMCGs, energy and professional services in developing thought leadership and positioning senior team members as sector leaders.
  • Developed content platforms and multi-media strategies to establish credibility and attract talent.

 


Insights

A link to a page
Blog

Remember to Protect Your Reputation as Well as Your Data

Saturday, January 28th was the 16th annual Data Protection Day. While you may not have remembered the day, the chances are you are increasingly conscious of the need to protect your data and that which your business manages for others.

A link to a page
Blog

Europe Readies Itself for a Cyber Winter

For European Cybersecurity Month, Kekst CNC spoke to President of the Munich Security Conference Foundation Council, Ambassador Wolfgang Ischinger about key trends in cyber and data security.

A link to a page
Blog

Avoiding a Cyber Nightmare Before Christmas

While 2020 is likely to be a year many would prefer to forget, the changes it has brought to our lives are likely to have lasting effects, even after COVID-19 is finally put to rest. One area of change has been work: Post-pandemic, half of British employees are demanding flexible working arrangements, with 30% prepared to quit should their employer demand a full-time return to the office, according to Kekst CNC’s COVID-19 Opinion Tracker.

Contact Information