2023 Corporate Trust Report

*This blog post has been updated since its original 2023 publication

The State of Corporate Trust

Corporate trust is the foundation of reputation, but that foundation is showing cracks. Around the world, stakeholders are raising expectations, and many companies are falling short.

From customer purchases to investor confidence, trust is the deciding factor in whether stakeholders choose to engage, remain loyal, or walk away. Yet many organizations are struggling to deliver the ethical behavior, transparency, and consistency that trust requires.

RepTrak’s Trust Report explores this new reality. Drawing on millions of data points from our global reputation intelligence platform, it highlights how perceptions are shifting across industries and where benchmarking reveals new pressure points. The report shows what companies must do to protect corporate trust and boost reputation before it is too late.

Fill out the form to access insights that will help your company strengthen resilience, close reputation gaps, and turn trust into a powerful tool for crisis prevention.

The Corporate Trust Report: Insights for Business Leaders

Why Corporate Trust Matters More Than Ever

Trust is not only about how people feel about your brand. It also determines how they act. Companies that earn trust see stronger loyalty, more recommendations, and greater resilience during crises. Companies that lose it risk stakeholder skepticism, reputational damage, and reduced support across every dimension of their corporate reputation.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Trust Report

How does RepTrak measure corporate trust?

RepTrak collects real survey data from key stakeholders across the globe to provide a clear, quantifiable understanding on how the informed general public thinks, feels, and acts toward companies. Trust is measured in two ways: as an emotional component to overall the Reputation Score, and an action (stakeholders' willingness to trust a company) in our Business Outcomes suite.

What is the difference between trust and reputation?

Reputation is the broader perception of a company, while trust is a stakeholder action that it part of its foundation. Without trust, corporate reputation is fragile. You need to measure them both if you want to build an overall strong corporate reputation.

Why is corporate trust so important to reputation management?

Corporate trust determines whether stakeholders stand by a company during disruption. Strong trust translates into resilience, while weak trust makes organizations vulnerable to reputational damage in times of crisis.

How can companies get ahead of trust and reputation challenges?

Stakeholder expectations are rising, and when companies fail to meet them, trust erodes quickly. The 2023 Trust Report equips leaders with the data and benchmarks they need to spot vulnerabilities, measure progress, and take action. It serves as a roadmap for strengthening corporate trust, closing reputation gaps, and preventing small issues from escalating into crises.

RepTrak for Corporate Leaders

With RepTrak Compass™, corporate reputation and trust data live in one platform. Supported by our Advisory experts, Compass connects insights with strategies that protect and grow corporate trust while helping companies benchmark against peers and boost reputation in competitive markets.

Ready to Strengthen Trust?

The message from stakeholders is clear: promises are not enough. Companies that act with integrity and consistency will earn trust, while those that do not will see it disappear.

Fill out the form to download the full Trust Report and learn how to build the corporate trust your company needs to thrive.

Download the Trust Report