Full-year - Chime Communications PLC

Public RelationsInternational developmentBell Pottinger Middle East expanded its footprint during2008, with new offices in Abu Dhabi and Bahrain addingto its existing operations in Dubai and Doha. Although theeffects of the global downturn have been felt in the region,the flow of new business remains healthy and our presencein the region is increasing the Group’s exposure to keyglobal accounts.The merging of the Bell Pottinger Collective with Bell PottingerSans Frontières, which provides clients with a single pointof contact for the Division’s most senior communicationsadvisors, has helped to increase the flow of global businesswhilst strengthening our ability to deliver exceptional,multi-disciplinary solutions to complex geopolitical briefs.Key international campaigns delivered by the Group during2008 included co-ordinating the successful election campaignof Zambia’s President Banda, high-profile work to buildstronger ties between Belarus and the European Union,our well-regarded support for the Bahrain EconomicDevelopment Board and our management of Madrid’s bidfor the 2016 Olympic Games. We also repitched successfullyon the global PR account for Emirates, a Bell Pottinger clientfor over eight years.Greater exposure to the public sectorAn increased focus on developing our public sector exposureduring 2008 has delivered a number of significant newopportunities that provide scope for enhanced revenue overthe coming year. The Bell Pottinger Group was successfulin securing a position on seven of the Central Officeof Information’s eight PR rosters, securing a vital conduitfor Government work over the medium term. High-profilecampaigns in public health have brought together companiesfrom across the Bell Pottinger Group as well as Chime’smarketing services and research Divisions to delivermulti-disciplinary communications solutions.Regulatory environment drivingdemand for CR servicesCorporate Citizenship, an agency formed by combiningThe Smart Company with The Corporate CitizenshipCompany, continues to set standards in a sector thatis now seen as a non-negotiable investment by most majorcompanies. The current regulatory environment is increasingdemand for credible, transparent CR initiatives. Work such asthe groundbreaking tracking of Unilever’s economic impacton Southern Africa and detailed, global CR consultancy forPearson is establishing Corporate Citizenship as a leaderin this field.Significant growth and expansionin propertyDespite the downturn in the property market, propertyplanning remains an extremely active sector, withsignificant growth in planning application business bothfor Bell Pottinger North and in London. The Division’sspecialist property agency, tta, maintained a healthylevel of property development work, with expansion intoAbu Dhabi and Dubai opening up new markets andproviding opportunities for growth.Investment in people drives newbusiness performanceThe robust new business performance delivered bythe Division in 2008 shows the value of our considerableinvestment in business development skills across allcompanies. Good Relations and Harvard, two of ourportfolio of PR agencies, have continued to respondextremely positively to the recent introduction of newmanagement teams. New clients arriving across thePR Division during 2008 included G4S, the world’s secondlargest employer, for which the Bell Pottinger Group willprovide a range of consultancy and auditing services,Barclaycard, Farnborough Airport and HSBC.Opportunities and outlookAcross the communications marketplace, economicuncertainty is driving demand both for crisis managementPR services and for integrated solutions that can join upconversations with shareholders, governments, customersand other stakeholders. With digital and social networkingexpertise now an intrinsic element of any communicationscampaign, the range of expertise that can be brought tobear from across the PR Division and the broader ChimeGroup gives us a vital competitive advantage in our market.Campaigns launched this year for Müller, Fortnum & Mason,Vodafone and 118 118 are just some examples of Groupwork built around the realities of reputation formingin the digital age.Despite the growing pressure on marketing budgets,Consumer PR remains an area of significant opportunity,with many clients looking to find new, more effective channelsfor engaging consumers and building brand reputation, andthe integrated solutions available through the Bell PottingerGroup offers a vital point of difference in the market.It is an indicator of the extent to which PR has ‘comeof age’ as a marketing tool that spend on the area is beingmaintained despite the pressure that marketing budgetshave come under.Chime Communications plcAnnual Report & Accounts 20087