$11 Billion = “Disappointing”
By DH on May 1, 2008 in Media Relations, Personal notes
As I was pumping regular gasoline into my Volvo today that cost $3.65 a gallon - the highest amount I have ever paid - I thought about a news story I had just heard: While Exxon Mobil earned $11 billion during the first quarter of 2008, buoyed by soaring crude oil prices, some oil industry analysts voiced disappointment that the profits were not higher.
The oil giant’s profits rose 17 percent against the same period last year, and some greedy ba***rd was “disappointed!” Yet … we consumer pay it, and we keep our voices muted.
Then I thought about friends who are communications executives at Exxon Mobil and what an easy job they have of spin control over the profit story because there’s not a damn thing the American consumers are doing about it, except buying more SUVs.
As I observe, consult and write books and articles about reputation and brand leadership in today's highly competitive world, I will share thoughts and perspective on this blog.
On May 8, 2008, Barney said:
And we are now paying well over 1 GB pound per litre (not gallon, note, but litre) for this precious fluid in the UK. I remember how shocked I was when petrol (gas to you) in the UK went over 1 GBP per gallon many years ago. Little did we think that we’d get to pay 1 GBP+ per litre and in so doing support both the vast profits of the oil industry and the tax-taking habits of our government.
Ah, happy days!