LONDON — Fanclub PR, along with former BT external comms leader Dan Thomas, have launched a new consultancy designed to get companies through techlash unscathed.

The corporate comms firm, called Humankind, is focused on growing, transforming, and protecting the reputations of digital and technology businesses. In keeping with the overarching goal of rebuilding trust in ecommerce, digital-first and tech businesses, the consultancy will help companies address reputational challenges and engage with communities in more empathetic, compassionate ways.

Humankind’s offerings include integrated corporate communications campaigns, ESG and purpose communications, and storytelling and narrative development, as well as thought leadership and executive coaching. The firm’s services also include reputational risk assessments, crisis preparedness, and issues and crisis communications.

The venture, co-founded by Thomas and Fanclub’s Adrian Ma, Paul Lucas and Davnet Doran, will serve as a complement to Fanclub’s consumer and B2B PR offerings, with the two companies sharing a London office. Working together, the companies will be equipped to offer clients a fully integrated external, internal, and digital communications offering spanning corporate, consumer and business-to-business.

“Ecommerce and tech brands have seen a resurgence in popularity and support during the pandemic, but a ‘techlash’ still remains. Customers, employees, and investors are rightfully demanding much more from companies in terms of environmental, social, and corporate governance practices,” Thomas said.

“Whether it’s the introduction of a new global tax on ‘Big-Tech,’ protests around employment rights or energy consumption concerns, it’s abundantly clear people expect much more from technology companies now they play a defining role in society. We want to help firms tackle these reputational challenges and see them grow with purpose and sustainable practices at their heart,” he said.