Edelman's Dave Fleet on Crisis, Disinformation, and Proactive Trust at Aspen Business & Society Summit

At the 2026 Aspen Business & Society Summit, Dave Fleet, the Managing Director and Head of Global Crisis at Edelman, engaged in a conversation with host Ellen McGirt on the podcast DB|BD. He oversees a crisis communications team of more than 100 professionals dedicated to helping organizations navigate reputation crises. Fleet pointed out that due to geopolitical factors, corporate crises have become a constant concern, with 70% of individuals exhibiting an insular mindset, as reported by Edelman's Trust Barometer. He stressed the significance of empathy and coalition-building, sharing an example of a C-suite trust resolution. Additionally, Fleet mentioned Edelman's counter-disinformation unit, revealing that two-thirds of people find it challenging to evaluate information credibility. He called for proactive communication and media literacy, referencing Finland's educational approach, while urging businesses to operate within their permission space.