Maitland launches new Public Affairs arm following merger with Euro RSCG Apex Communications

Apex, who task2 work with in London have announced a merger with top PR company Maitland PR to form Maitland Politicial.

Maitland launches new Public Affairs arm following merger with Euro RSCG Apex Communications – Mar 21st 2011

Maitland, the leading financial and corporate communications group, today announces the launch of a new public affairs arm, to be called Maitland Political, to advise clients on government relations and public policy. Maitland is merging with Euro RSCG Apex Communications, its fellow Euro RSCG agency, to create the new arm of the business, which will also encompass a number of Maitland’s existing senior consultants.

Apex, founded five years ago by Ed Owen and Pete Bowyer, has grown to become a leader in its field and has worked with a range of high profile clients, including A4e, Johnson & Johnson, the Competition Commission, the British Beer and Pub Association, Allpay and Channel 4.

Mr. Owen and Mr. Bowyer will become full Partners in Maitland. Together, Maitland Political will have a powerful team of experienced public affairs consultants from a wide range of backgrounds.

Key figures include:
– Ed Owen, political adviser in the Home Office (1997-2001) and Foreign Office (2001-2005) and strategic communications expert.
– Pete Bowyer, a leading political and media consultant for the last 15 years who has advised Kofi Annan, Nestlé SA, McDonalds, Johnson & Johnson, DHL International, Viacom, bmi and Kingfisher plc amongst others.
– James Drewer, a long standing adviser to the Conservative Party who worked for William Hague in 2001, was involved in Ken Clarke’s leadership bid, and more recently worked for Andy Coulson at Conservative Central Office in the run up to last year’s General Election, travelling with David Cameron on the campaign trail.
– Brian Cattell, a current Maitland Partner with over 15 years of financial communications, political and media experience. Brian is a former Conservative Parliamentary candidate and current Chairman of the Conservative leaning think-tank The Bow Group.
– Peter Lyburn, former Conservative Parliamentary candidate. Peter fought target seat number 30, Perth and North Perthshire for the Conservatives at the last General Election. Prior to the election, Peter was an environmental consultant with UK recycling firm SWR.

In addition, Alison Goldsworthy, Deputy Chair of the Liberal Democrats Federal Executive and an expert campaigner, will be joining as the Maitland Political team as a consultant. Alison was named as one of PR Week’s 29 under 29 in 2010.

Maitland Political has the scale, the experience and strong relationships within the political community to advise and assist clients on a broad range of subjects, including:
Competition policy, financial services policy and legislation, health policy, employment policy, Central and Local Government procurement, and international trade relations. It will support clients on stakeholder relations, policy development, issue-based campaigning, and monitoring of political and parliamentary activities.

Neil Bennett, Maitland’s Chief Executive, said: “The launch of Maitland Political is a huge opportunity for us to offer a wider range of services and advice to our clients. For some time now it has been clear to us that financial and corporate communications and public and Government affairs are closely related disciplines, whether we are advising on a transaction or on day-to-day matters. I am delighted that the team from Apex have agreed to join us in this new venture and look forward to working with them to deliver a truly excellent service to clients across a full range of audiences.”

Ed Owen, Maitland Political Partner, added: “This is an exciting development for us and creates a natural partnership that pools our different skills to provide clients with even greater value in terms of expertise and experience. The traditional barriers between communications disciplines are disappearing and the merger provides companies and organisations with a fully integrated and comprehensive service.”

The merger is effective as of today and the new business will be based in Maitland’s
existing offices in Covent Garden.

Notes to Editors

1, Maitland is Europe’s leading financial and corporate communications adviser. With a broad range of FTSE100 and FTSE250 clients and multinationals it has developed an unrivalled reputation for discreet but powerful advice and advocacy with the media and
the financial community. Founded by its chairman Angus Maitland in 1994 it aims to be a uniquely trusted adviser and intermediary between different audiences in critical situations. Maitland is a founding member of AMO, the world’s leading financial and corporate communications network, which has offices and more than 250 senior consultants on all five continents.

Wales’ first Campaigns consultancy launches

March 2011

Wales’ first campaigns consultancy, Task2 launches today. Led by multi-award winning Alison Goldsworthy, the consultancy fills a gap in Welsh market providing support to businesses and charities who want to work with their supporters and customers to achieve change.

Alison who was named as one of PR Week’s 29 under 29 in 2010 said;

“With this month’s successful referendum result, this is a really exciting time for Welsh democracy. Wales already has successful public affairs and PR agencies but Task2 offers something different. We will work with supporters to motivate them to support an organisation as it calls on a Government for change.”

Task2 is well linked into the Westminster and European political scenes with Alison also joining Biss Lancaster owned Apex Communications as an Associate Consultant. Director and former Special Advisor to Cabinet Minister Jack Straw, Ed Owen said;

“Although based in Wales, Alison will be joining a strong team here in Westminster. With her impressive understanding of devolution and the Liberal Democrats alongside her background in campaigning she will add something new. After the successful yes vote in last week’s referendum the Welsh Assembly becomes a more streamlined, more attractive place to influence change.”

Task2 has already been helping The Haemophilia Society with their campaigning work in Wales on the contaminated blood disaster. Press and Communications Manager at The Haemophilia Society, Dan Farthing said;

“Alison’s thorough knowledge and understanding of the Welsh political and campaigning environment helped us achieve much greater impact on the contaminated blood campaign. I know The Society and our supporters are looking forward to continuing to work with her”

Notes to Editors
1, Alison Goldsworthy was named as one of PR Week’s 29 under 29 in 2010 for her work as Director of Communications and Events at the Kidney Wales Foundation. The Organ Donation campaign she ran there with Freshwater PR scooped two CIPR Cymru awards. An active Liberal Democrat, Alison is Deputy Chair of the UK Federal Executive. Previously as UK Campaigns Manager at Leonard Cheshire Disability Alison was involved in the attitude changing creaturediscomforts.org campaign that won a prestigious Third Sector award. A Business graduate from the University of Bath with a postgrad in Management from the Open University, Alison is also a member of the British Council’s future leaders network the Transatlantic Network 2020. More information on Alison is available.

2, Apex is a strategic communications agency with expertise in developing stakeholder and media relations, and delivering integrated public affairs campaigns. Innovative and fast-growing, we provide a personalised service from senior consultants with unrivalled experience. And, as part of the Euro RSCG global network, we offer added reach and scale.