To be objective, I do not have the life and business experience of a skilled person. But the weekly meeting / report was what was effective. Analyze this in a month and filter it through the PR department, and then approve it at the next meeting / report.
Imo, there are two main things here, Inbound and Outbound. And IMO it can be different people.
Incoming communication - note-taking, grouping and analysis.
Outgoing communication - Regularly share your plans, and respond to problematic and main things from the Incoming communication list.
Plans always change, and the one who wants to leave will leave. The main thing here is to explain everything well, for those who want to stay. The situation with the “explanations” for the exclusivity of the EGS is criminal. This should have been done in good time, frankly, with respect for yourself and those who believed you.
Imo, at least 50% of the negative is legitimate, as a result of the SG’s mistakes. And another 30% of the negativity is legitimate, as a result of avoiding / not correcting these and other mistakes of the SG. Of course, you can close the studio and go to earn manual labor. 