Lotus Land Agency PR review: Ivan Crispo | unprofessional, dishonest, and incompetent

We worked with Lotus International ("Lotusland") for approximately nine months, during which three significant issues defined our experience: 1) incompetence, 2) unprofessionalism, and 3) dishonesty.

### **Incompetence**

a) **Failure to deliver promised media exposure**:

Despite their assurances, Lotus did not secure the media coverage they committed to. Ironically, our internal team achieved significantly better results.

- **Specific observation**:

Lotus managed to secure coverage in a well-known "pay-for-play" publication, which they falsely presented as earned media.

b) **Overpromising and underdelivering**:

Lotus repeatedly failed to meet specific deliverables outlined in their monthly proposals, often without even attempting to fulfill them.

- When confronted, Lotus deflected responsibility, blaming "external factors" while insisting they had an "amazing range of contacts" in high-profile media—none of which materialized.

c) **Lack of project management**:

The agency displayed poor organizational skills throughout. Documents meant for other clients were mistakenly sent to us, emails were left unanswered, and clear instructions regarding our goals were routinely ignored.

d) **Questionable event recommendation**:

Lotus recommended that we sponsor a food event, which we later discovered was organized by an individual who had been charged and investigated for misusing government funds for personal gain.

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### **Unprofessionalism**

a) **Inappropriate conduct of the director**:

Ivan Crispo, the sole male director of Lotus, demonstrated awkward and socially abrasive behavior.

- **Specific observation**: In meetings with his staff, Ivan frequently made inappropriate sexual remarks and joked about selling his body.

- **Specific observation**: At a food event we sponsored on Lotus' recommendation, Ivan shockingly shared fantasies about performing sexual acts on family members.

- **Specific observation**: At the same event, Ivan openly discussed fantasies of engaging in sexual activities with clients, in the presence of a group of journalists.

This behavior was highly unprofessional, damaging not only Lotus' reputation but also exposing them to serious legal risks. It’s evident that such conduct could irreparably harm any brand associated with Lotus.

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### **Dishonesty**

a) **Misrepresentation of sponsorship roles**:

Lotus instructed the administrators of a sponsored food event to use their logo in all media kits and branding materials, rather than ours as the primary sponsor. When questioned, Ivan Crispo claimed he had “no idea” about this decision, yet his secretary admitted they did it to gain exposure at our expense.

b) **False claims about clients**:

Lotus falsely claimed that Huawei, one of the world’s largest tech companies, had signed on as a client. It’s highly improbable that a tech giant would partner with a food PR firm, exposing yet another misleading statement from Lotus.

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In summary, Lotus International demonstrated a consistent pattern of incompetence, dishonesty, and malicious behavior throughout our engagement. Their inability to fulfill promises, combined with blatant unprofessionalism and misleading tactics, suggests a disregard for client success and ethical business practices. The lack of organizational structure, repeated failures in project management, and concerning conduct from their leadership further highlight a toxic culture that poses significant risks to any brand associated with them.

Their high client turnover rate is indicative of widespread dissatisfaction, and we believe it is a direct result of these problematic practices. Partnering with Lotus not only jeopardizes potential business outcomes but also risks irreparable damage to brand reputation. Based on our experience, we strongly advise others to steer clear of Lotus International to safeguard their brand’s integrity and avoid unnecessary setbacks.