Crisis communication, public affairs and influence strategy
BACKGROUND
Trained as a journalist and communications professional, Blandine Cazelles spent ten years as head of communications for a regional division of the La Poste group, through transformation and crisis. There she gained a detailed understanding of local and regional issues, particularly in public and private organisations.
From 2017 to 2020 she was chief of staff at the French Senate, at the heart of law-making. A municipal councillor for twelve years in a town of 15,000 people, she knows first-hand how local authorities and public policy work.
She then created and led the key accounts business unit of a crisis management consultancy in Paris, developing a specialist approach to crisis communication, public affairs and media training. A graduate of IHEDN, the French institute for higher national defence studies, she also brings an economic and strategic intelligence perspective. She founded the CriseHelp network, which brings together independent senior crisis management experts.
WHAT SHE BRINGS TO A DATA CENTER PROJECT
A data center project is also played out in front of local officials, residents, the press and government services. That is exactly Blandine's ground.
Preparing public consultation: stakeholder mapping, messages, timing, the developer's posture with officials and residents.
Public affairs: dialogue with local authorities, members of parliament and government services, with a practical understanding of how they work.
Crisis communication when a project is challenged: crisis cell, press responses, public statements, exit from the crisis.
Media training for executives and developers, to adapt how they speak in sensitive situations.
HER APPROACH
Pragmatic, built on anticipation, resilience and proactive management of critical situations. She also advises local officials and executives on communication strategy and posture.
WHO SHE WORKS WITH
Developers preparing a public consultation or facing opposition, local authorities hosting a sensitive project, executives who must speak in a tense context. See also our data center crisis management service.
HOW SHE WORKS
Blandine works within the GridReadiness network, which remains your single point of contact, and can bring in experts from the CriseHelp network depending on the crisis. Every assignment is set out in a written proposal, with the confidentiality these situations require.