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'''Bell Pottinger''' is a British multinational public relations and marketing company, co-founded in 1989 by [[Tim Bell]], who advised [[Margaret Thatcher]] on media matters when she was [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|UK Prime Minister]], and [[Piers Pottinger]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Black|first=Alex|title=THE POWER BOOK: Britain's most powerful|url=http://www.prweek.com/news/rss/646479/POWER-BOOK-Britains-powerful/|newspaper=PR Week UK|date=28 March 2007}}</ref> With headquarters in London, Bell Pottinger is the largest [[UK]]-based [[public relations]] consultancy measured by 2010 fee income<ref>{{cite web|url=http://toppragencies.prweek.co.uk/Top150-leaguetable.aspx|title=Top 150 PR consultancies|accessdate=11 December 2011|publisher=PR Week}}</ref> and is described as having "the most controversial client list" in the PR industry.<ref>Pace, Richard, ''[http://everything-pr.com/bell-pottinger/68863/ "Bell Pottinger Wins: Bail Extended for Atlaf Hussain’s Money Laundering Charges"]'', ''Everything PR'', 7 October 2015. Retrieved: 9 October 2015.</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Newman|first=Melanie|last2=Wright|first2=Oliver |title=Caught on camera: top lobbyists boasting how they influence the PM ''Special undercover investigation: Executives from Bell Pottinger reveal 'dark arts' they use to burnish reputations of countries accused of human rights violations''|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/caught-on-camera-top-lobbyists-boasting-how-they-influence-the-pm-6272760.html|newspaper=The Independent|date=6 December 2011}}</ref> | '''Bell Pottinger''' is a British multinational public relations and marketing company, co-founded in 1989 by [[Tim Bell]], who advised [[Margaret Thatcher]] on media matters when she was [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|UK Prime Minister]], and [[Piers Pottinger]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Black|first=Alex|title=THE POWER BOOK: Britain's most powerful|url=http://www.prweek.com/news/rss/646479/POWER-BOOK-Britains-powerful/|newspaper=PR Week UK|date=28 March 2007}}</ref> With headquarters in London, Bell Pottinger is the largest [[UK]]-based [[public relations]] consultancy measured by 2010 fee income<ref>{{cite web|url=http://toppragencies.prweek.co.uk/Top150-leaguetable.aspx|title=Top 150 PR consultancies|accessdate=11 December 2011|publisher=PR Week}}</ref> and is described as having "the most controversial client list" in the PR industry.<ref>Pace, Richard, ''[http://everything-pr.com/bell-pottinger/68863/ "Bell Pottinger Wins: Bail Extended for Atlaf Hussain’s Money Laundering Charges"]'', ''Everything PR'', 7 October 2015. Retrieved: 9 October 2015.</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Newman|first=Melanie|last2=Wright|first2=Oliver |title=Caught on camera: top lobbyists boasting how they influence the PM ''Special undercover investigation: Executives from Bell Pottinger reveal 'dark arts' they use to burnish reputations of countries accused of human rights violations''|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/caught-on-camera-top-lobbyists-boasting-how-they-influence-the-pm-6272760.html|newspaper=The Independent|date=6 December 2011}}</ref> | ||
| + | ==Fake Al Qaeda videos== | ||
| + | In October 2016, the [[Bureau of Investigative Journalism]] reported that Bell Pottinger had been paid more than $500 million by the [[Pentagon]] to make fake videos that appeared to be the work of [[Al Qaeda]], the Islamist extremist group formerly headed by [[Osama bin Laden]], and to create news stories that looked as though they were produced by Arab media outlets, and distributed them through [[Middle East]]ern news networks. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Bell Pottinger worked in Camp Victory, the US military base in Baghdad, and the propaganda videos were personally approved by General [[David Petraeus]] – then the commander of US-led coalition forces in Iraq, who would go on to become the [[Director of the CIA]]. On some occasions, even the White House signed off on the propaganda materials.<ref>''[http://www.salon.com/2016/10/03/u-s-paid-p-r-firm-540-million-to-make-fake-al-qaida-videos-in-iraq-propaganda-program/ "US paid PR firm $540 million to make fake Al Qaeda videos in Iraq propaganda program"]''</ref> | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Chime Communications== | ||
In 2010 Pelham Public Relations, a financial public relations business, merged with Bell Pottinger Corporate and Financial.<ref>{{cite press release |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Chime Communications PLC ("Chime" or the "Company") A Vendor Placing and Cash Placing to Facilitate the Merger of Bell Pottinger |url=http://chimeplc.com/announcements/chime-pelham-and-tree-acquisitions |location=London |publisher=Chime PLC |agency= |date=15 January 2010 |accessdate=2015-01-15}}</ref> In December 2011, Bell Pottinger came under public scrutiny after managers were secretly recorded talking to fake representatives of the [[Uzbekistan]] government<ref>{{cite news|last=Morris|first=Nigel|last2=Sherwin|first2=Adam |title=Reaction: Lobbying company faces investigation by its own industry |url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/reaction-lobbying-company-faces-investigation-by-its-own-industry-6273823.html |newspaper=The Independent|date=8 December 2011}}</ref> and violating [[Wikipedia]] rules by removing negative information and replacing it with positive spin.<ref>{{cite news|last=Pegg|first=David|last2=Wright|first2=Oliver |title=Wikipedia founder attacks Bell Pottinger for 'ethical blindness'|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/wikipedia-founder-attacks-bell-pottinger-for-ethical-blindness-6273836.html|newspaper=The Independent|date=8 December 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Pegg|first=David|last2=Newman|first2=Melanie|title=Bell Pottinger targeted environmental campaigner on Wikipedia|url=http://www.thebureauinvestigates.com/2011/12/08/bell-pottinger-targeted-environmental-campaigners-website/|newspaper=The Bureau of Investigative Journalism|date=8 December 2011}}</ref> | In 2010 Pelham Public Relations, a financial public relations business, merged with Bell Pottinger Corporate and Financial.<ref>{{cite press release |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Chime Communications PLC ("Chime" or the "Company") A Vendor Placing and Cash Placing to Facilitate the Merger of Bell Pottinger |url=http://chimeplc.com/announcements/chime-pelham-and-tree-acquisitions |location=London |publisher=Chime PLC |agency= |date=15 January 2010 |accessdate=2015-01-15}}</ref> In December 2011, Bell Pottinger came under public scrutiny after managers were secretly recorded talking to fake representatives of the [[Uzbekistan]] government<ref>{{cite news|last=Morris|first=Nigel|last2=Sherwin|first2=Adam |title=Reaction: Lobbying company faces investigation by its own industry |url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/reaction-lobbying-company-faces-investigation-by-its-own-industry-6273823.html |newspaper=The Independent|date=8 December 2011}}</ref> and violating [[Wikipedia]] rules by removing negative information and replacing it with positive spin.<ref>{{cite news|last=Pegg|first=David|last2=Wright|first2=Oliver |title=Wikipedia founder attacks Bell Pottinger for 'ethical blindness'|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/wikipedia-founder-attacks-bell-pottinger-for-ethical-blindness-6273836.html|newspaper=The Independent|date=8 December 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Pegg|first=David|last2=Newman|first2=Melanie|title=Bell Pottinger targeted environmental campaigner on Wikipedia|url=http://www.thebureauinvestigates.com/2011/12/08/bell-pottinger-targeted-environmental-campaigners-website/|newspaper=The Bureau of Investigative Journalism|date=8 December 2011}}</ref> | ||
| + | ==BPP Communications== | ||
In June 2012, [[Lord Bell of Belgravia]] and Bell Pottinger CEO [[James Henderson]] completed a £19.6m management buyout from Chime Communications, whose deputy chairman Piers Pottinger moved to the new company BPP Communications (BPPC). Chime retained a 25% stake and a seat on the board of [[BPPC]], which comprises Bell Pottinger Public Relations, Pelham Bell Pottinger, Bell Pottinger Public Affairs, Bell Pottinger Sans Frontieres and Bell Pottinger Middle East.<ref>{{cite news|url= http://www.theguardian.com/media/2012/may/31/chime-bell-pottinger |title= Chime agrees £20m Bell Pottinger sell-off |last= Sweney |first= Mark |date=31 May 2012|work=The Guardian|accessdate=17 December 2014}}</ref> | In June 2012, [[Lord Bell of Belgravia]] and Bell Pottinger CEO [[James Henderson]] completed a £19.6m management buyout from Chime Communications, whose deputy chairman Piers Pottinger moved to the new company BPP Communications (BPPC). Chime retained a 25% stake and a seat on the board of [[BPPC]], which comprises Bell Pottinger Public Relations, Pelham Bell Pottinger, Bell Pottinger Public Affairs, Bell Pottinger Sans Frontieres and Bell Pottinger Middle East.<ref>{{cite news|url= http://www.theguardian.com/media/2012/may/31/chime-bell-pottinger |title= Chime agrees £20m Bell Pottinger sell-off |last= Sweney |first= Mark |date=31 May 2012|work=The Guardian|accessdate=17 December 2014}}</ref> | ||
Revision as of 17:43, 15 April 2017
 Bell Pottinger Private Communications Ltd      | |
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| Founder | •  Tim Bell•  Piers Pottinger |
| Subgroups | Pelham Bell Pottinger |
| Staff | 300 |
Bell Pottinger is a British multinational public relations and marketing company, co-founded in 1989 by Tim Bell, who advised Margaret Thatcher on media matters when she was UK Prime Minister, and Piers Pottinger.[1] With headquarters in London, Bell Pottinger is the largest UK-based public relations consultancy measured by 2010 fee income[2] and is described as having "the most controversial client list" in the PR industry.[3][4]
Fake Al Qaeda videos
In October 2016, the Bureau of Investigative Journalism reported that Bell Pottinger had been paid more than $500 million by the Pentagon to make fake videos that appeared to be the work of Al Qaeda, the Islamist extremist group formerly headed by Osama bin Laden, and to create news stories that looked as though they were produced by Arab media outlets, and distributed them through Middle Eastern news networks.
Bell Pottinger worked in Camp Victory, the US military base in Baghdad, and the propaganda videos were personally approved by General David Petraeus – then the commander of US-led coalition forces in Iraq, who would go on to become the Director of the CIA. On some occasions, even the White House signed off on the propaganda materials.[5]
Chime Communications
In 2010 Pelham Public Relations, a financial public relations business, merged with Bell Pottinger Corporate and Financial.[6] In December 2011, Bell Pottinger came under public scrutiny after managers were secretly recorded talking to fake representatives of the Uzbekistan government[7] and violating Wikipedia rules by removing negative information and replacing it with positive spin.[8][9]
BPP Communications
In June 2012, Lord Bell of Belgravia and Bell Pottinger CEO James Henderson completed a £19.6m management buyout from Chime Communications, whose deputy chairman Piers Pottinger moved to the new company BPP Communications (BPPC). Chime retained a 25% stake and a seat on the board of BPPC, which comprises Bell Pottinger Public Relations, Pelham Bell Pottinger, Bell Pottinger Public Affairs, Bell Pottinger Sans Frontieres and Bell Pottinger Middle East.[10]
In June 2014, BPPC acquired Centreground Political Communications, founded by Tony Blair's former Special Adviser Darren Murphy, and launched a new service aimed at the luxury sector in September that year.[11][12]
References
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- ↑ Pace, Richard, "Bell Pottinger Wins: Bail Extended for Atlaf Hussain’s Money Laundering Charges", Everything PR, 7 October 2015. Retrieved: 9 October 2015.
- ↑
{{URL|example.com|optional display text}} - ↑ "US paid PR firm $540 million to make fake Al Qaeda videos in Iraq propaganda program"
- ↑ Chime PLC. "Chime Communications PLC ("Chime" or the "Company") A Vendor Placing and Cash Placing to Facilitate the Merger of Bell Pottinger". Press release. http://chimeplc.com/announcements/chime-pelham-and-tree-acquisitions. Retrieved 2015-01-15.
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This page imported content from Wikipedia on 19 July 2016.Wikipedia is not affiliated with Wikispooks. Original page source here
