This master’s thesis examines crisis communication strategies of major European oil
and gas companies to manage their corporate reputation. The primary aim is to evaluate their
impact on reputation, financial performance, and stock price fluctuations. The study
emphasizes the importance of structured communication plans tailored to industry-specific
risks and highlights the vital role of timely, effective responses in protecting reputation
during crises.
The research consists of theoretical and empirical parts. The theoretical framework
is based on Situational Crisis Communication Theory by Coombs and strategic
communication models by Smith, Fombrun, and Langham. The empirical research uses
mixed methods, including, content analysis of corporate communications during crises and
comparative case studies of five major European oil and gas companies: BP, Repsol,
TotalEnergies, Orlen, and Uniper. Quantitative financial analysis was carried out using
financial indicators and stock price fluctuations. Document analysis of annual and financial
reports supported the financial review. Social media and website analyses evaluated
communication transparency and audience engagement, while cross-cultural analysis based
on Hofstede’s dimensions examined the impact of national context on strategy effectiveness.
The central research problem is to examine how different crisis response strategies
shape public perception, affect stock performance, and influence reputation outcomes across
European markets despite cultural and communicative differences. The findings show that
transparent, proactive, and culturally adaptive strategies lead to stronger reputational
resilience and financial stability. A key outcome is a practical crisis communication
guideline, including tools for crisis severity evaluation, stakeholder segmentation,
spokespersons roles, internal communication flow, and a crisis response checklist. This
guideline offers a practical framework for managing crises in the oil and gas sector.
The thesis includes 20 tables, 20 figures, and 25 annexes with detailed data and
analysis. The study contributes to the advancement of strategic communication and crisis
management research and offers a practical planning tool for communication professionals,
crisis managers, and corporate leaders in high-risk industries like oil and gas.
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