Bell Pottinger's Asian and Middle Eastern units break with parent
Administration looms for the British PR firm, expelled from an industry body and deserted by clients, shareholders, and now its overseas units
The Asian and Middle Eastern units of Bell Pottinger‚ the UK public relations (PR) firm on the ropes over its controversial handling of the Gupta family account‚ are breaking off to form new companies. The PR firm has been expelled from the UK's Public Relations and Communications Association (PRCA), following a complaint from the DA. The party is still waiting for Britain’s Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) to respond to the complaint it laid in July against the PR company. The Financial Times reported on Friday that Bell Pottinger’s Asia unit would separate from the parent company to form Klareco Communications. The Middle Eastern unit soon followed suit, but said it had not yet settled on a name for the new unit. The PR firm is losing clients after running its racially divisive campaign in SA for the Guptas. The PRCA expelled Bell Pottinger for a minimum of five years. DA MP Phumzile van Damme said the backlash against Bell Pottinger is what should have happened to ...
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