Beyond the Ballot – Illuminating the Intersection of Politics, Media, and Business Impact.

In 2024, we will see an historic triple election event, with three significant events taking place in the same year in the EU, US and in all likelihood, the UK.

Business and the Tri-Election Year: What's at Stake?

Each result is itself consequential, but the combined impact of these elections has the potential to drastically shift and shake up the global status-quo and with it the West’s business operating environment.

Whilst it’s too early to tell what the outcome of the individual elections will be, with less than 12 months till the European Parliament elections, and a UK election possible at any point, it’s certainly not premature for businesses and organisations to start to plan for the impact of potential results, and the implications of all the possible outcome combinations across the three markets.

Influence has evolved

Audience decisions are impacted by social stories as much as media headlines, and narratives are just as likely to start on the streets or the sofa as they are in the halls of Westminster, Brussels, or the Hill. Understanding intention and impact is no longer a temperature check, it’s a business imperative.

Post-covid, mid-economic crisis and pre-climate boundary breach, now is the moment to ensure that you are building a robust strategy to navigate the scenarios that might unfold. This seismic political event presents opportunity as well as challenge, and the most resilient organisations through this period will be the ones who meet the moment head on.

Beyond the Ballot combines Portland’s on the ground political expertise in the UK, EU and US, with the data innovation and analytics power and deep consumer understanding of Ketchum. Together we equip clients with the tools to understand and navigate potential outcomes in each individual market, as well as the potential combined outcomes, and decide what actions to take, and what plans to make across their entire business.

‘Beyond the Ballot’ – a new market leading division between Portland and Ketchum—will operate at the intersection of political, business, media and cultural perspectives. Combining the political expertise of Portland, with the data innovation and analytics power and deep consumer understanding of Ketchum, to drive an integrated view across media, audience, and business impact.

Established by London based Victoria Dean (CEO, Portland) and Jo-ann Robertson (CEO, Global Markets, Ketchum), Beyond the Ballot will service the needs of both Portland and Ketchum’s clients, ensuring they have access to a holistic view of public sentiment, business impact, media narrative, policy and politics.

Through data-driven insights, a proprietary suite of innovative products and crucially, the integrated senior counsel and consultancy expertise of both consultancies Beyond the Ballot will provide businesses with the information and tools to understand and navigate the impact of this historical moment, as well as the potential combined outcomes, and decide what actions to take, and what plans to make across their business.

Dean and Robertson will be supported by a London based team comprised of an integrated Ketchum and Portland bench under the joint leadership of Emma Dean (UK Managing Director, Public Affairs and Policy, Portland) and Heather Blundell (UK Deputy CEO, Ketchum), and drawing on the expertise of teams on the ground in Brussels, Paris, Berlin and Washington D.C in line with the division’s unique focus and approach:

Our teams

Jo-ann Robertson
CEO, Global Markets
Ketchum

Victoria Dean
Chief Executive Officer
Portland

This market-leading launch sees the creation of a first of its kind global division that combines heavy-hitting talent from Portland in the political hubs involved in this election hat trick of EU, US and the UK, with the data innovation and analytics power and deep global consumer understanding of Ketchum.

The leadership team will be comprised of an integrated Ketchum and Portland bench, featuring an industry leading team assembled in line with the division’s unique focus and approach: