Anyone in a leadership position today knows that we live in uncertain times, and disaster can strike any business, at any time, usually without warning. From the collapse of Lehman Brothers and the oil disaster of Deepwater Horizon, to Malaysia Airlines' loss of two planes, corporations are coming to realize that the impossible can happen all too easily. Public institutions, too, face a range of threats--from global recession, resurgent terrorism, and a stream of appalling natural disasters. For leaders in such organizations, these crisis situations can present both opportunities and threats. How they lead their companies through such challenging times will propel their careers to new heights-–or destroy them completely.

Crisis Leadership examines the challenges faced by leaders at each stage of the crisis "lifecycle," from the instant they learn of the crisis, through to moments of critical decision-making and the final tumultuous days. Featuring interviews with General Stanley McChrystal, who was the top Commander of American forces in Afghanistan, and Sir Mervyn King, ex-Governor of the Bank of England, the book offers a unique insight into the lessons learned by people in the most challenging of situations, such as Malaysia Airlines (MH17 and MH370, plus the ensuing bankruptcy), Thomas Cook (Corfu deaths), Toyota (Prius recalls), HSBC (tax avoidance and US subsidiary issues), World Health Organisation (the Ebola and Zika outbreaks), and FIFA (corruption scandal).

Blended with operational guidance from the author's extensive experience in crisis management, Tim Johnson offers an overview of the crisis "lifecycle" to ensure that readers will come away from this book with a honed understanding of the critical nature of each key stage.