Pros
The company works with a variety of interesting clients, offering exposure to unique industries and opportunities that you might not encounter at a traditional PR firm or agency.
Cons
Thatcher & Co. has the potential to be a wonderful agency for both employees and clients, but it is held back by poor leadership. While the CEO is a pleasant individual and likely has good intentions, his leadership team is a significant obstacle to the company’s success. The COO, in particular, collects a hefty paycheck but contributes little to nothing of substance. Instead of supporting the CEO or the team, the COO gaslights employees and prioritizes self-interest over the company’s well-being.
This lack of effective leadership creates a trickle-down effect that severely impacts junior staff. There are no growth opportunities, no structured training, and no support. As a result, clients are neglected, often falling through the cracks, while junior staff bear the brunt of the blame for systemic failures. Many in the leadership team lack an understanding of modern PR practices, and the CEO remains stuck in outdated tactics, leaving the agency unable to evolve with current industry trends.
The disconnect between leadership and junior staff is glaring. Junior staff, despite their talent, dedication, and potential, are left unsupported and overworked while leadership reaps the rewards without accountability. Rules seem to apply only to junior staff, while the COO and other leaders do as they please, fostering an environment of hypocrisy and mistrust.
The CEO’s naivety in choosing his leadership team is another major issue. He values titles and accolades over actual contributions, passion, or results. This has led to a leadership structure that is ill-equipped to handle the challenges of modern PR, leaving the agency in a constant state of disarray. Worse still, there seems to be a pattern of leadership complaining about clients rather than investing in understanding and addressing their needs, which further diminishes the quality of service.
Ultimately, the agency is crumbling under its own weight. Without bold changes starting with the removal of the COO and a complete overhaul of the leadership team I fear that Thatcher & Co. will not survive. The CEO’s reluctance to address these issues head-on is costing him dearly, as the very agency he built is slowly unraveling.
I truly wish Thatcher & Co. the best, as no leader deserves to see their work fall apart. However, without swift and decisive action to restructure the leadership team, the future looks uncertain.