Reputation matters, especially now.

27 companies to note in 8 Industry Sectors. 

Airline delays, telecom blackouts, food and energy cost escalations, are just a few of the things that have affected various consumer-citizen sectors and put their corporate inhabitants under the microscope nowadays. And no doubt that with the Bank of Canada rapidly raising interest rates and investment portfolios tumbling because of nosediving stock market values, other entities may be headed for a different but similar scrutiny in the months ahead.

All of this is likely to fuel conversations among citizens, stakeholders, regulators, and media about corporate and institutional conduct and there is no avoiding it going potentially wider and deeper as people are squeezed for cash having been caught in an inflation pincer.

As we have noted in this space previously, “trust” is a very diminished currency nowadays and the degree of distrust has been growing for many years. However, our research has demonstrated that “respect” is the new driver of consumer and public reputation—the primary attribute that can distinguish the few from the many when the spotlight falls on their sector. And if this attribute can tip the scales in determining where people put or leave their money and loyalty nowadays, then it really matters to put that light in the window.

Over the last two years, our Award program has identified the top companies that have a deserving seat at the most respected table.  Corporate results in key industry categories now serve as critical benchmarks from which to compare in the months that follow. As most in the reputation industry will tell you, your good qualities may do you well when things are relatively calm, however, it’s when things get tough, or even angry and hostile, that it that public equity pays off.

To these ends, the following corporate entities have been judged by the Canadian public over the past eighteen months to be at the top of the respect ranking for their sector categories: