Evan Nierman
Evan Nierman (born June 20, 1978) is an American public relations and crisis management executive and author.[1] He is the founder and CEO of Red Banyan, a strategic communications firm specializing in crisis PR and reputation management.[2][3] He is the author of Crisis Averted[4] and The Cancel Culture Curse.[5]
Early life and education
[edit]Evan Nierman was born in Shreveport, Louisiana,[6] on June 20, 1978. He graduated with a B.A. in Communications from George Washington University in 2000.[7] His early interests included media, politics, and public relations.
Career
[edit]Public relations and crisis management
[edit]Nierman began his professional career at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), where he was responsible for overseeing key publications, writing speeches, drafting foreign policy briefings for legislators, and organizing national events on Middle East policy.[6]
In 2011, he founded Red Banyan, a strategic communications firm focused on crisis management, reputation repair, and public relations.[8]
Through Red Banyan, Nierman represented former LaFace Skincare CEO Lisa Alexander following a viral confrontation that led to intense public scrutiny;[9] managed communications for the democratically elected government of Niger during the 2023 Nigerian coup d’etat[10] and its participation in the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit;[11] and assisted the Florida Holocaust Museum through a controversy involving graffiti.[12]
Media presence and commentary
[edit]He has been featured in on CNN,[13] and in Newsweek,[14]Business Insider,[15] and The Jerusalem Post,[16] where he has provided analysis on controversies, brand crises, and public fallout involving celebrities, corporations, and political figures.[8]
Nierman contributes to publications including Forbes[17] and Fast Company.[3] His commentary often explores the reputational risks posed by online backlash, misinformation, and viral content, as well as how business leaders and public figures can proactively protect their brands.[18][19]
Books and publications
[edit]Evan Nierman is the author of two books on public relations and crisis management.[20] His first book, Crisis Averted: PR Strategies to Protect Your Reputation and the Bottom Line (2021), offers a behind-the-scenes look at real-world crises and the strategies used to manage them.[21]
In 2023, he published The Cancel Culture Curse: From Rage to Redemption in a World Gone Mad, which examines the rise of cancel culture and its impact on free expression, reputations, and redemption in the digital age.[5]
Nierman has written opinion pieces and commentary for news outlets on media, politics, and crisis response. His work has been published in the Baltimore Sun,[22] The Hill,[23] The Jerusalem Post,[16] and TheWrap.[24]
Views and advocacy
[edit]Nierman is a critic of cancel culture and its impact on free speech, due process, and reputational fairness and the impact of digital mob justice, where individuals and organizations can face severe backlash without the opportunity to respond or defend themselves.[25][9]
External links
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Nierman, Evan (2019-06-20). Never Tell the Truth. Retrieved 2025-05-13 – via www.ted.com.
- ^ Nierman, Evan. "Evan Nierman - Author Biography". Entrepreneur. Retrieved 2025-05-13.
- ^ a b "Evan Nierman | Founder & CEO - Red Banyan". Fast Company Executive Board. Retrieved 2025-05-13.
- ^ Reporter, Bulldog (2021-08-24). "New Book from Crisis Management Expert and Founder/CEO of Red Banyan Evan Nierman - Agility PR Solutions". www.agilitypr.com. Retrieved 2025-05-13.
- ^ a b "The Cancel Culture Curse". Skyhorse Publishing. Retrieved 2025-05-13.
- ^ a b "S1:E45 | Evan Nierman - Problem Solver Proven Entrepreneur". The Proven Entrepreneur. Retrieved 2025-05-13.
- ^ "Class Notes | GW Magazine | The George Washington University". GW Magazine. Retrieved 2025-05-13.
- ^ a b "About Evan". Red Banyan. Retrieved 2025-05-13.
- ^ a b Irshad, Zara. "Can you be un-canceled? 'S.F. Karen' is trying". San Francisco Chronicle. Archived from the original on 2024-07-08. Retrieved 2025-05-13.
- ^ Dedhia, Surbhi (May 13, 2025). "Reputation Management: Through the Lens of PR". Digital Genie. Retrieved May 13, 2025.
- ^ "Niger hires Red Banyan to promote its interests at the US/Africa Leaders Summit - Africa Business+". africabusinessplus.com. 2022-12-15. Retrieved 2025-05-13.
- ^ Baruch, Aimee (2021-05-27). "Florida Holocaust Museum Releases Statement Following Antisemitic Attack Overnight". The Florida Holocaust Museum. Retrieved 2025-05-13.
- ^ Rothenberg, Eva (2023-09-24). "Once reputation is at risk, so is money. That's when companies turn to crisis PR | CNN Business". CNN. Retrieved 2025-05-13.
- ^ Member, Entertainment Reporter Newsweek Is A. Trust Project (2024-11-24). "MrBeast controversies aren't hurting him". Newsweek. Retrieved 2025-05-13.
- ^ Pettyjohn, Samantha Grindell. "Prince Harry and Meghan Markle should pivot to distract from their latest cycle of bad press, PR experts say". Business Insider. Retrieved 2025-05-13.
- ^ a b "Israel must prevail on the social media battlefield - opinion". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. 2023-12-31. Retrieved 2025-05-13.
- ^ YEC. "'Cancel Culture': How Business Leaders Can Protect Themselves From Negative Online Press". Forbes. Retrieved 2025-05-13.
- ^ "Hailey Bieber had a career-making May. But what is going on with Justin?". NBC News. 2025-05-31. Retrieved 2025-06-10.
- ^ TAGGART, Frankie. "A Lingering Musk: Will Ex-aide Elon Get Up Trump's Nose?". barrons. Retrieved 2025-06-10.
- ^ "Books by Evan Nierman (Author of Crisis Averted)". www.goodreads.com. Retrieved 2025-05-13.
- ^ Averted, About Crisis. "Crisis Averted". Advantage Books. Retrieved 2025-05-13.
- ^ Nierman, Evan (2025-03-13). "Zelenskyy wasn't ready for diplomacy with the Trump administration | GUEST COMMENTARY". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 2025-05-13.
- ^ Nierman, Evan (2024-03-07). "Why educators should embrace artificial intelligence". The Hill. Archived from the original on 2024-03-16. Retrieved 2025-05-13.
- ^ Waxman, Sharon (2023-09-13). "What Do We Do About Louis C.K.? A Documentary Explores the #MeToo Dilemma". TheWrap. Retrieved 2025-05-13.
- ^ Dilworth, Miles (2024-07-08). "America's most notorious 'Karens' are hiring a crisis manager". Mail Online. Retrieved 2025-05-13.