The forum, held on March 6, 2015 at the Barbaros Point Hotel in Istanbul, also revealed that companies can only increase their brand value by focusing on areas related to their reputation. 
At RepMan Forum 2015, it was highlighted that companies that set the rules, determine trends, and play a leading role in global competition are generally those that have invested in their reputations and thus gained the support of all stakeholders, especially the general public. The RepMan Forum 2015 was held with 125 participants, including top executives from the business world, representatives from civil society and professional organizations, academics, media members, and leading figures from the public relations and marketing world. The forum was also broadcast live online. The opening speeches of the forum were given by RepMan Advisory Board Member Salim Kadıbeşegil, GfK General Manager Fulya Durmuş, and Allianz Turkey CEO Solmaz Altın. You can watch these speeches here. Salim Kadıbeşegil, RepMan Reputation Research Center Advisory Board Member and RepMan Forum 2015 President, explained that managing reputation has now become a top priority for companies and continued as follows; “Companies have it in their own hands whether they are good, bad, or ugly. This is determined by the values and principles with which they manage that company. Since these forums are a platform where those interested in reputation management can get firsthand information, the trends, developments, and assessments related to the subject add value to the participants.”
Which Brand? Which Reputation? And Creating a Social Brand!
Is Being on Top Lists Important? Does it Contribute to Reputation?
Dr. Markus Renner shared the results of his extensive research with the participants. Dr. Renner, a member of the RepMan Advisory Board, explained that more than 500 brand-company rankings are made worldwide. He stated that the reputation of these rankings is also important, emphasizing the need to pay attention to which company or institution made the ranking when examining it. He explained that while not all of these rankings, some, which receive intense attention from the media and stakeholders, have an impact on the reputation of the companies included. You can watch Dr. Markus Renner’s presentation here.
Communication Revolution, Social Media Reality and Reputation Management
In the final episode of RepMan Forum 2015, Reputation Management was discussed under the moderation of Salim Kadıbeşegil. Risks; Reputation Management in the Face of Social Media Reality was discussed. The panel included Prof. Dr. Pekka Aula, a member of the RepMan Advisory Board and a faculty member at the University of Helsinki, and Jouni Heinonen, CEO of Pohjoisranta Burson-Marsteller and a member of the RepMan Advisory Board. The speakers emphasized that the number one risk for companies is “reputation.” They stressed that this risk has increased even further with the reality of social media, and therefore the risk factor has also increased. You can watch the panel here..
Pekka Aula said the following regarding reputation management on social media: “Reputation is one of the most important assets modern companies possess. Social media, along with traditional media, is creating a new communication environment where reputation and reputation management have never been so important. Companies must find ways to enhance and protect their reputations on social media. To survive and achieve the greatest benefit in the new era of communication revolution, companies must be better equipped regarding reputation management. Strategic reputation management is a board matter and cannot be left solely to marketing & communications departments.”
RepMan Forum 2015 Notes
*RepMan Forum 2015 was held with the support of Allianz Turkey and GfK. Internet broadcasting and video support was provided by Patika Yapım. *It was held with 125 participants, including senior executives from the business world, representatives of civil society and professional organizations, academics, media members, and leading figures from the public relations and marketing world. *The forum included; Soyak Holding CEO Emre Çamlıbel, Hobby CEO Cem Birdinç, journalist and opinion leader Serdar Kuzuloğlu, Brand Finance Turkey representative Muhterem İlgüner, and Bahçeşehir University faculty member Prof. Dr. Haluk Gürgen contributed their comments. *The forum was “free” as in previous years. However, this year, participants were asked to make a donation of any amount to a non-governmental organization in order to register. RepMan Reputation Research Center directed participants to the following organizations for donations, although it was not mandatory: Buğday Ecological Transformation Association, Community Volunteers Foundation, and Koruncuk Foundation.
*RepMan Forum 2015 was broadcast live online. Faculty members and students from communication departments; Chambers of Commerce and Industry; and professional organizations from various provinces were among the organizations that watched the Forum online.
*Participants’ reviews of the forum were shared on social media using the hashtag #repmanforum2015.
RepMan Reputation Research Center
Vision
To gather all reputation research being conducted worldwide in one center, to create discussion forums related to them, and to produce and share scientifically based studies that can serve as references for relevant circles.
Mission
Reputation research in Turkey began with the RepMan model. For the past fifteen years, companies that are leaders in their sectors have developed stakeholder integration strategies using this model. They have implemented corporate communication strategies based on the data from this model. This model has created the infrastructure preferred by the business world and academic circles in Turkey and worldwide for benchmarking. Now, this center is bringing its accumulated knowledge to a platform that everyone can benefit from.