An honest view of PR with Shimon Cohen Artwork

PR for Humans with Mike Sergeant

This is a podcast for pure-of-heart storytellers and people fed up with corporate smoke and mirrors. Former BBC correspondent Mike Sergeant goes out in search of fascinating human beings and their stories. Each person featured is a communications expert in some way. But this podcast goes WAY beyond the usual PR and Comms world to seek out some deeper truths. Actors, novelists, illustrators, journalists, podcasters, CEOs, charity leaders and TED talkers. They all feature here. Each conversation is completely unique. But the aim is always the same: tell a great story and learn the art of storytelling itself - in business and in life. Listen, enjoy, share and review!!!! Thanks so much.

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PR for Humans with Mike Sergeant

An honest view of PR with Shimon Cohen

March 01, 2019 • Mike Sergeant

In this episode, Mike talks to Shimon Cohen - Founder and Chairman of The PR Office. Shimon is a rarity in the PR world: someone who actually seems proud to be doing PR! While most agencies seem to be busy trying to reinvent themselves as 'digital influencers' or 'content strategists' or 'insight specialists' or 'strategic consultants', Shimon provides clients with "what they actually want" - which, in his view, is always either to be in the news or out of the news. To be talked about. Or to get people to stop talking about them.

In his varied career, Shimon has advised a wide range of clients ranging from Governments and multinational corporations to public and voluntary sector organisations. Prior to founding The PR Office in 2004, Shimon served as Chief Executive of Bell Pottinger Public Relations and before that Shimon was Executive Director at The Office of the then Chief Rabbi, Lord Jakobovits.

In one memorable story, Shimon recounts how he came to write a speech for Nelson Mandela and then advise Madiba on how to deliver it!