Shaping the Narrative During a Global Financial Crisis

The Situation

During the Asian Financial Crisis, the Export–Import Bank of the United States played a critical role in sustaining U.S. trade with key international partners. At the same time, Congress was actively debating the Bank’s reauthorization – creating a window for critics to question its relevance, value, and mission at precisely the moment its work mattered most.

The Bank faced a dual challenge: supporting global economic stability while clearly demonstrating its continued importance to policymakers, industry, all at a time of intense public scrutiny.

The Approach

David helped lead a focused, high-impact media strategy designed to elevate the Bank’s role and reinforce its relevance in real time. His efforts emphasized clear, accessible storytelling about the Bank’s impact on U.S. exporters and global markets, supported by targeted media engagement and strategic opinion leadership.

This included drafting and placing op-eds and securing coverage in influential national and international outlets, ensuring that policymakers and stakeholders understood not just the Bank’s critical role – but why it mattered – during a period of global disruption.Image Fields

The Impact

The Bank’s role during the crisis became widely recognized, helping shift the narrative from abstract policy debate to tangible economic impact. As a result, Congress reauthorized the Export–Import Bank at a historically high level, reinforcing its mandate and credibility at a pivotal moment.

“U.S. Export–Import Bank’s Clout Helps Speed Restructuring,” Asian Wall Street Journal

“Preaching Green, Subsidizing Dirty,” The Washington Post (Op-Ed)