About the editors
Ben Verinder
Ben Verinder is an agency founder and a strategic communication and public relations adviser. He works with boards, senior leadership teams and communications practitioners on reputation, crisis and issues management, and the integration of AI into communications practice.
He is a founding member of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) AI in PR panel and has contributed to early industry thinking on AI and data ethics through CIPR publications. He has written extensively on AI in public relations and is the creator of the AI and Reputation Leadership course.
Ben is one of a small group of Founding Chartered public relations practitioners globally. He delivers training and consultancy across the UK and internationally, supporting organisations in adopting AI in a way that strengthens capability while managing associated risks.
Stephen Waddington
Stephen Waddington is a professional adviser at Wadds Inc. and a PhD researcher at Leeds Business School. His work focuses on management, corporate communications and public relations as a management function.
He has held senior leadership roles in agencies including Metia, Ketchum, Rainier PR and Speed, and has advised organisations such as The Economist, HM Government, Intel, Microsoft, the Press Association, the NHS, Tesco and Virgin Media Business.
Stephen is a former President of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) and a founding member of the CIPR AI in PR panel. He is also co-founder of Socially Mobile, a social enterprise supporting public relations practitioners from underrepresented and lower socio-economic backgrounds.
He has written or edited more than fifty publications on public relations and management, including Brand Anarchy, Chartered Public Relations, Exploring Public Relations and Management Communication, and Share This.