Negative Press is Inevitable for Modern CEOs — And That’s Not a Bad Thing.

Negative Press is Inevitable for Modern CEOs — And That’s Not a Bad Thing.

When it comes to sheer likeability, T-Mobile CEO John Legere is in a class of his own. The 61-year-old company leader has earned recognition from both CNBC and Fast Company for being one of the most liked CEOs in the country; as of last count, he enjoyed approval ratings of 96% . With numbers like these tied to his name, it seems only fair to expect Legere to have a similarly sterling reputation online. After all, research from Edelman Insights indicates that 65 percent of people view an online search as their most trusted source of information about individuals and businesses.

The assumption goes like this: A CEO who sparks critical headlines will likely struggle against contention, criticism, and — of course — low approval numbers. Someone like Legere, an affable leader with a near-perfect approval rating, wouldn’t have anything but a pristine record online — right?