How to handle it when you get a pie in the face during a speech

The list of dangers of CEO communication just got one item longer: a bakery item. Qantas CEO Alan Joyce received a pie in the face while delivering a speech this week to 500 people at a business event in Perth, Australia. It has emerged that his assailant was a Perth man who objected to what he perceives as Joyce’s “corporate bullying” in favor of gay marriage. Qantas exec comms pro Thomas Woodward sent along this context, which shows Joyce handling the situation with supreme cool. Nevertheless, Joyce says he will press charges against the man.