The Equitable Life trial at the High Court is currently in its summer break. Time to relax, sit back and think about how it’s going.

For one participant, however, it’s time to offer the benefit of his own vast experience, explaining how to handle such complex affairs as a High Court trial.

Tony McGarahan, PR in chief at Equitable, has lined himself up to speak at a ‘crisis management’ conference for PR Week in October.  ‘McGarahan will discuss stabilising the business, the importance of open communications and the benefits of effective scenario planning,’ the blurb says.

Only one question: with the second half of the trial still to come, and the outlook looking decidedly uncertain for Equitable, isn’t it a tad early to join the lecture circuit now? The phrase ‘hostage to fortune’ springs to mind.