Michael Palese:  

d as he created a truly benchmark, totally integrated regional function to support the company’s growing needs for local intelligence, market access and expansion into new lines of business. Other industries coveted Palese’s work, such as the electric utility industry, which was facing very similar needs due to deregulation, and he was a much invited speaker, author and counselor to that industry. NYNEX also recognized the value of his work, as he was tapped to revamp community relations/intelligence resources at a NYNEX cable television subsidiary in the UK. His strategic role expanded in one other key way…he took responsibility for strategic relations with national affinity organizations recognizing their growing importance for policy support and market expansion. Palese was then approached by Chrysler Corporation to take a position (again) created for him to establish a process to identify and manage strategic issues posing risk or opportunity to corporate and brand reputations, and to manage crises. The process Palese developed is considered benchmark to this day. In fact, the process was subsequently adopted by Daimler in Germany after the DaimlerChrysler merger dissolved and has inspired development of collaborative issue management processes at other companies in the U.S. and around the world. His strategic skills and penchant for innovation were then needed in the area of executive positioning and messaging, where he developed strategically relevant public speeches for C-level leaders at Chrysler. True to form, Palese took this role to the next level and developed Chrysler’s executive platform strategy, fully integrating executive positioning, issue management, stakeholder engagement, philanthropy and community relations. In recent years, due to mounting financial and reputational risk of corporate and product liability litigation, Palese was asked to lead Chrysler’s legal communications function. He has transformed it into a highly strategic, anticipatory, full service operation positioning Chrysler with media and other key audiences during litigation, government investigations and other high-risk legal matters. He was called upon to also provide strategic media counsel and media training on legal matters involving Mercedes Benz and various Freightiner affiliates on a global basis before Chrysler and Daimler split. In addition, Palese’s communications skills and counsel are so valued by trial teams that he is a welcome member of these teams and is often asked to support development of opening and closing trial speeches. In sum, Michael Palese is a rare talent in the corporate communications world bringing well-developed strategic abilities, technical skill and the spirit of a leader and innovator to his discipline. His accomplishments and essential character may be more impressive considering that Palese, who loves sports, movies and watching his eleven-year-old son play youth travel hockey, has successfully battled multiple sclerosis the past ten years of his life.".