Bob’s Blog

A big thanks to those who have helped the FDNY Foundation

September 30, 2020 - Those of you who know me and our firms know that one of our primary responsibilities is supporting the FDNY and FDNY Foundation. For 19 years after watching first-hand the dedication of New York’s Bravest after 9/11, and seeing their... [Continue Reading]

How Television Got to the NYSE Trading Floor

June 18, 2020 - How Television Got to the NYSE Trading Floor (A CEO’s approval; and why it’s important to the brand still today) Some moments just stick with you.  For life. One of mine came about 25 years ago. I had come back... [Continue Reading]

COVID-19 vs. 9/11

March 26, 2020 - I sent an email to a client (and friend) this morning, congratulating him on his company’s decision to provide insurance coverage to furloughed workers during the crisis we face today.  I sent that email right after I had an email... [Continue Reading]

A Virus…The Media…and a Jesuit

March 16, 2020 - A Virus…The Media…and a Jesuit Ok, it’s a misleading headline…especially the last part. But in the face of the “unknown”…the despair…the confusion…and the concerns, there have been a couple of wonderful stories. Paul Farhi’s piece in The Washington Post asked... [Continue Reading]

A Times Square Billboard to Help Us Remember?

September 10, 2019 - A Times Square Billboard to Help Us Remember? Try these stories and video instead. An interesting proposal came across my desk this week.   An organization is renting a video screen in Times Square that will allow interested parties to pay... [Continue Reading]

A Tale of Two Brands

April 05, 2019 - JetBlue vs. United The difference was stark. So much so that I am impelled to capture it for others. Three weeks ago, I am sick on a Friday when I am supposed to fly to Charlotte on a business trip.... [Continue Reading]

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from Zito Partners

December 18, 2018 - The amazing photographer — and our good friend — Jim Salzano used his phone to shoot this image of Manhattan’s Grace Church in October. It immediately made us think of the holidays, and how fortunate we are. Fortunate to have great families…a... [Continue Reading]

Cancer screenings…and hiring Vets

October 19, 2018 - I love it when clients do things that make you say, “Well done”…even if you had nothing to do with it. Over the past several years, three of my friends have been diagnosed with and treated for prostate cancer.  Fortunately,... [Continue Reading]

First Impressions Go a Long Way

March 02, 2018 - A guy walked into a room… No, not a joke. It’s about first impressions. We deal with clients every day…and meet potential clients regularly. How someone enters a room sets the tone for the meeting. Consider our experience last week.... [Continue Reading]

Good News to End the Year

December 22, 2017 - The end of 2017 brought some good news to Zito Partners and IPZ. At Zito Partners, Deborah Kostroun has been promoted to Managing Director of our firm.  Deborah has done outstanding work for our clients, and her work ethic on... [Continue Reading]

Eli Manning and a Lesson in Leadership

November 29, 2017 - (and why 57 years of rooting for this franchise just imploded) Class Act. Important description in any commentary. Eli Manning is a Class Act. No, he’s not the best quarterback; probably far from it. Yes, he’s had some great games…and... [Continue Reading]

The Kids Are Alright

November 22, 2017 - Don’t go looking at the lyrics from The Who’s often-covered song, one that always made me wonder if I was actually listening to The Beatles. This has nothing to do with that song. Years ago, the firm I was with... [Continue Reading]

Saints Perform Miracles

July 13, 2017 - On large screen televisions in living rooms and bars across the United States Wednesday night, sports fans got to learn first-hand about the “Miracle of St. Anthony,” and the Saint who made it all happen – Bob Hurley. The introduction... [Continue Reading]

Bob Zito featured in Ketchum blog

May 25, 2017 - Financial Communications: A Q&A with Bob Zito Ketchum Zito Financial, a strategic alliance offering management consulting and financial communications services between Ketchum and Zito Partners (ZP), marked the third anniversary of its partnership this week. Read the Q&A here: http://blog.ketchum.com/a-financial-communications-qa-with-bob-zito/... [Continue Reading]

UAL — What’s Next? It Starts at the Top.

April 12, 2017 - The backlash against United Airlines was well deserved. And the criticism of its CEO expected. But now let’s see what the company comes up with moving forward. I can’t remember the last time I flew on United (and as Newark... [Continue Reading]

Faith? I Lost Mine Last Week.

April 11, 2017 - Photo by Jim Salzano I was speaking with a good friend Thursday about the Catholic Church. He’s left it. I’m right behind him. He and his wife gave up when his local parish kept asking for money, and they saw... [Continue Reading]

Lies My Father Told Me

March 06, 2017 - No, my dad never lied to me. In fact, he’s the person I’ve most respected for my entire life. Back in 1975 or ’76, I was back in New Jersey for a day courting my future bride. I had the... [Continue Reading]

Revis Island – Another Perspective

February 21, 2017 - I board a late flight one night in early 2016 from Newark to Fort Lauderdale — had a couple of meetings in Florida and took a day on each side for some work in the sun. I sit in my... [Continue Reading]

SPORTS AND FAMILY

January 11, 2017 - It’s amazing the things we remember. I was 12 years old, playing first base for the CJ Murphy team in the Bayonne Little League championship game. Tommy Wise, who was a great basketball and baseball player (later played briefly for... [Continue Reading]

Respecting Veterans…and helping a great High School

November 10, 2016 - As we remember and recognize the sacrifice of our Veterans this Friday, we are honored that several Veterans currently serve on our Advisory Board, and we have the opportunity to work with so many more through our client engagements. The... [Continue Reading]

A culture of distrust.

October 20, 2016 - A few years back, I authored a blog about an unscrupulous broker at Wells Fargo who had managed to lose more than half of my then 86-year-old Aunt’s portfolio, by investing her money is stocks no 86-year-old should have been... [Continue Reading]

Italy/9-11/and Colin Kaepernick

September 07, 2016 - I was in Italy working on a potential business deal two weeks ago when Tom Bergeron, the editor of NJBIZ, called me. “We’re going to look back at 9/11 on this, the 15th anniversary.  Would you be willing to write... [Continue Reading]

Scallops…Brunello…and an agreement

August 04, 2016 - You never know what can develop from a lunch at Alfie’s. Having known and respected the team at Global Markets Advisory Group (GMAG) for – literally – decades, when Charlie and Kevin said to me over scallops and Brunello, “So,... [Continue Reading]

Bob DeFillippo Joins Zito Partners

September 22, 2015 - Thrilled to welcome Bob DeFillippo to the Zito Partners team. Bob DeFillippo Joins Zito Partners WARREN, N.J. – Bob DeFillippo, most recently the Chief Communications Officer for Prudential Financial, Inc., has joined Zito Partners in a senior consulting role.  Mr.... [Continue Reading]

The Hidden Strength Behind Navy SEALs

August 26, 2015 - It was a fairly direct and pointed question, the type of question you’d expect from a woman who has worked on Wall Street her entire career. “If my company supports your organization, tell me what the programs look like that... [Continue Reading]

Memories of a funeral…and leadership

July 27, 2015 - There are some things I remember from my childhood. Not a lot…but those that have stuck, stuck well. One is a memory of a funeral service for Walter Kimbrough. Walter was the lead groundskeeper for the Bayonne Housing Authority. My... [Continue Reading]

TABB Forum highlights our blog

July 13, 2015 - NYSE – Once Upon a Time: A Great Brand The NYSE’s big mistake last week wasn’t the software glitch. It was the silence that resonated from a nearly empty trading floor during the outage.The post-Dick Grasso leadership at the exchange... [Continue Reading]

Once Upon a Time: a Great Brand

July 09, 2015 - Yes, this will be a biased view. In the mid-1990’s we spent time, energy and money building the NYSE into one of the great brands in the world. The result was an 83% market share, global dominance in the listings... [Continue Reading]

Trying to give back to the FDNY

December 08, 2014 - I’m standing in a midtown firehouse a few weeks ago watching – over a two-hour period – the guys suit up and answer six different calls. Last week, in a different midtown house, it was three calls in 45 minutes.... [Continue Reading]

Salvatore J. Cassano Joins Zito Partners’ Board of Advisors

September 18, 2014 - NEW YORK, NY (September 18, 2014) – Salvatore J. Cassano, the 32nd Fire Commissioner of the New York City Fire Department (FDNY), has joined the Board of Advisors of Zito Partners, the company announced today. Commissioner Cassano led the United... [Continue Reading]

Two great Americans. So respectful of our relationship with Col. Jacobs

June 21, 2014 - There are people in my life who give me…and our team…great guidance and inspiration. Our Board of Advisors is a group of people who do just that. I encourage you to watch this piece. An amazing hero — and friend... [Continue Reading]

Partnering with Ketchum

May 22, 2014 - Ketchum today announced the formation of Ketchum Zito Financial, a new offering from Ketchum that combines the expertise of both our firms to benefit existing clients and provide what we believe will be an attractive resource for potential clients. Our... [Continue Reading]

The Truth’s Not Always Easy…

March 23, 2014 - Playing the game on the side of the angels is always fun. Truthinadvertising.org (TINA.org for short), one of our clients, fights the good fight each day, educating consumers about scams, challenging organizations that mislead the public, and outing bad apples... [Continue Reading]

The Other Side of College Athletics

September 13, 2013 - Sports Illustrated has painted an especially damning portrait of college sports in its extensive feature on the Oklahoma State football program (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/college-football/news/20130910/osu-introduction/). But there are thousands of college athletes that rise above the horror stories that seem to get broad... [Continue Reading]

WPIX Looks at a Great FDNY Program

September 13, 2013 - For more on the FDNY Foundation’s Firefighter for a Day program, visit:... [Continue Reading]

True Teambuilding

August 26, 2013 - I’m always stunned by the “teambuilding” exercises corporations use to energize and motivate management. Some are outstanding…others better suited for the academic scrap pile. One of the best I’ve seen is the FDNY’s – the opportunity for a management team... [Continue Reading]

JetBlue teams with the FDNY Foundation

August 26, 2013 - JetBlue CEO Dave Barger talks about a great program offered by the FDNY and FDNY Foundation. Read more here.... [Continue Reading]

CNN invites us in to discuss issues and comebacks

June 29, 2013 - Can Paula Deen make a comeback? Paula Deen's empire is crumbling. Other celebrities have bounced back from scandals in the past, but can she? Christine Romans, Bob Zito, and Pamela Brown discuss.... [Continue Reading]

Please join me in welcoming Ray to the Zito Partners team.

April 17, 2013 - I’m happy to inform you that Ray Pellecchia, my trusted partner for 14 years at the New York Stock Exchange, has joined Zito Partners in a senior consulting role. During the past 26 years, I’ve had the great fortune to... [Continue Reading]

Protect the Elderly in Your Families

January 02, 2013 - It was just over a year ago. My Aunt Gene (we always called her FLAG – fun loving Aunt Gene) grabbed my hand at Thanksgiving dinner and said, “Rob, can we talk after dinner?” “What’s wrong, Aunt Gene?” “I’m worried,”... [Continue Reading]

Lessons for America from Australia

November 05, 2012 - First, having personally felt the strength and damage – but not the tremendous destruction – of Hurricane Sandy in the Northeast, our hearts go out to all who have been impacted in any way. This has been a difficult eight... [Continue Reading]

Interesting Piece from Peter Kenny at Knight

September 28, 2012 - Peter Kenny of Knight, who was a great help to our efforts at the NYSE, writes a morning note for investors each day which I find among the best in the marketplace. His note yesterday morning (shown below) contained some... [Continue Reading]

To my Advertising, Marketing and PR Colleagues…

September 13, 2012 -  Please help us support the FDNY Foundation OK, I’m making a pitch. When I was at the NYSE I worked with just about every New York public relations, communications, advertising and investor relations firm, helping coordinate and gain visibility for... [Continue Reading]

OWS: A Guy Who Won’t Be Participating

May 01, 2012 - This is the story (it will be brief) of a 29-year-old blue collar guy who won’t be participating in the Operation Wall Street protests today. Brian Robinson works his butt off (and the butts of others as he helps run... [Continue Reading]

The Congressional Medal of Honor

March 21, 2012 - Peter Kenny of Knight Capital Group does an insightful morning note every day, looking at the markets and giving readers his input about what lies ahead. He also regularly adds a human touch…something that I look forward to reading as... [Continue Reading]

Must See!

February 24, 2012 - SEE THIS MOVIE The producers of Act of Valor (http://actofvalor.com/official/) were kind enough to arrange a special screening of the film two weeks ago for members of the FDNY and NYPD. Wow. A number of the Navy SEALS who “star”... [Continue Reading]

London Olympics: 2-4-1

November 30, 2011 - The “numerical” buzzword in the US these days is 9-9-9…Herman Cain’s proposed tax plan that has sparked debate among supporters and critics. But last week I heard another numerical buzzword that’s tough to argue with – 2-4-1. It’s the plan... [Continue Reading]

National School Bus Safety Week

October 21, 2011 - Seven years ago, Don Perry had just finished his morning run when a car sideswiped his school bus. The driver pulled away,  Don followed but, before he could reach the car, it crossed into oncoming traffic and hit a tractor-trailer... [Continue Reading]

In a Year of Tragedies…

October 12, 2011 - In a Year of Tragedies… We applaud those who have done what they can…no matter how large or small…to help those impacted by the multiple disasters that have been too regular an occurrence during 2011. On Sunday, October 30th, our... [Continue Reading]

John Connolly’s View From Asia

September 29, 2011 - Our partner, John Connolly, was in from Australia last week. As we began discussing the global economy, he gave us his view from Asia. I thought you might find his comments (below) interesting: Europe in turmoil, US heading for a... [Continue Reading]

THE FLAG ON THE NYSE’S FAÇADE

September 08, 2011 - The story of the NYSE flag Images create lasting memories…some warm…some joyful…and some difficult. The 10th Anniversary of 9/11 is upon us. We can never forget the sacrifice so many people made that day…or the work of countless firefighters, police... [Continue Reading]

High Frequency Trading

August 22, 2011 - Sound advice from Dick Grasso on CNBC today. The SEC should pay attention. http://www.cnbc.com/id/44228471 Posted by Bob Zito at 8/22/2011 9:34 PM... [Continue Reading]

Gabelli on News Corp.; Great Burgers

July 22, 2011 - Love listening to Mario Gabelli. The rhetoric from the media on the tribulations and demise of News Corp. has been overwhelming. Talk about pouring gasoline on a fire. It seems that any competing news organization is doing all it can... [Continue Reading]

The Good…and the Bad

July 07, 2011 - I admire the coverage ESPN and The New York Times have been giving the women’s World Cup. The ESPN on-air talent, especially Ian Darke, Julie Foudy, Brandi Chastain and Bob Ley, have been outstanding. The Times has been devoting a... [Continue Reading]

The Hotlist in AdWeek

June 10, 2011 - Good AdWeek piece this morning on Hotlist. Hotlist will prove a great tool for brands to impact social planning… and individuals to figure out where they want to go on any given night. Got plans? www.hotlist.com Posted by Bob Zito... [Continue Reading]

Since 9/11

May 01, 2011 - I have woken up every morning since 9/11, and turned on the television, hoping to learn that we got bin-laden. It took too long. But I am so thankful we’ve done it. Posted by Bob Zito at 5/1/2011 10:22 PM... [Continue Reading]

Thank you, US Military

May 01, 2011 - The sacrifice and perseverance of our armed forces is exemplary. Thank you for your dedication. Thank you for your sacrifice. Thank you for making us all safer. Thank you for getting this degenerate today. May 1, 2011. A great day.... [Continue Reading]

Das NYSE

February 13, 2011 - Jim Stewart wrote one of the best pieces I’ve seen on the “takeover” of the NYSE by the Deutsche Borse in this weekend’s Wall Street Journal. And while Jim’s piece makes sense, the news still hurts. We spent years building... [Continue Reading]

Davos/NYT

January 21, 2011 - Today’s (1/25/11) New York Times includes one of the most insightful pieces I have read over the years about Davos. Andrew Ross Sorkin captures the little discussed elephant in the room – the cost to play. I was part of... [Continue Reading]

Morning Reads

January 11, 2011 - Peter Kenny always turns up some gems in his daily morning note from Knight (www.knight.com). Great market insight, interesting links and he finds some great “factoids.” He picked up this one from the WSJ this weekend (I had missed it),... [Continue Reading]