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european news End of an era for agency boss Alistair McLeish steps down at Central and Eastern European specialist MMD BUDAPEST/MOSCOW: Huntsworthbecomes Dobson’s deputy, owned Central and Eastern while remaining Eurasia chief. European (CEE) corporate Lock, who joined MMD in 2004, comms and public affairs conis a well-known figure among sultancy network MMD has UK lobbyists, having been MD announced new regional and of the former Ludgate Public country leadership. Affairs and co-founder of CiceThe move comes as chairman ro Consulting. In his new MMD Alistair McLeish, a well-known role he is co-located in Moscow figure on the European comms and Istanbul. circuit, steps down from dayAlso, Jan Simunek becomes to-day leadership of the agency regional director for CEE, with he founded almost 25 years ago. responsibility for the agency’s ofMMD – around 35 per cent of MMD stalwarts (clockwise, from top left): fices in the Czech Republic, Slowhose business is public affairs McLeish, Dobson, Lock and Simunek vakia, Bulgaria and Romania. – was bought by Huntsworth in 2006. MMD has more than 180 consultants and Chris Dobson, who joined in 1995 and has been offices in 18 countries. Dobson said: “Alistair chief operating officer since 2005, is now group has, over the past year or so, moved back CEO. He has spent the past two years in Russia from running the business on a daily basis, but now relocates to Budapest, Hungary. transitioning to the current management team. Stephen Lock, regional director for Eurasia So, while of course this is the end of an era, it is (Russia, Turkey, Ukraine and Central Asia), also a smooth transition.” view from brussels Christian Hierholzer Director of public affairs, Weber Shandwick Brussels CSR debate: back with a vengeance It has been more than two years since the European Parliament adopted its report on corporate social responsibility (CSR). With the Parliament supporting the Commission’s preference for encouraging companies to integrate social and environmental concerns into their operations voluntarily (rather than being required by legislation), the question of ‘mandatory versus voluntary’ seemed to have been decided for good, and in favour of the latter. The business-led European Alliance for CSR launched and debate died down to near silence. However, the political advocates of mandatory EU standards on CSR did not give up. On the contrary, they are back with a vengeance. Voices include several leading MEPs who successfully ran for re-election using the election campaign as a platform to relaunch their drive for mandatory standards. These MEPs are expected to act upon their words during the new legislative term. Two factors have breathed new life into what seemed a lost case for the advocates of a mandatory approach. Firstly, the economic crisis, which has mainly been attributed to bad corporate practices. This has created a climate more favourable to intervention than in 2006/07, when the last Commission Communication was discussed. Secondly, as a result of the economic crisis, many companies have – or are perceived to have – put CSR on the back burner, providing ammunition for the ‘pro-mandatory’ lobby. When the policy debate on CSR does take off again, the parameters and the dynamics of the debate will therefore have shifted, threatening to be unfavourable to business. The onus will be on companies to successfully demonstrate that they have not only maintained their commitment to CSR, but that they are also able to show tangible achievements. There will be a timeframe of a few months before CSR is likely to have worked its way up to the top of the policy agenda again. It is within this timewindow that business will have to communicate its commitments and achievements. Even if many companies do so effectively, the question of whether CSR should be made mandatory for all companies is almost sure be raised once more. ‘View from Brussels’ features a different columnist each month. If you want to feature, please contact editor Ian Hall on + 44 20 7091 7522 or ian.hall@publicaffairsn European PA Awards: nominations open November, when they were known BRUSSELS: Nominations have opened as the European Public Affairs Difor the European Public Affairs rectory (EPAD) Awards. (EPA) Awards 2009. Nominations for this year’s The awards – being organised by event will close on 11 SeptemPAN-owner Dods – will take place ber and the shortlist will be anon Thursday 5 November at The nounced on 21 September. To Claridge in Brussels. Brussels awards: the 2008 event nominate, visit www.theparliaThe awards highlight success ment.com/epaawards/. and encourage best practice in European PA, ❚ If you want further information about the bringing recognition to individuals, organisaawards, contact Rachel Hewett at rachel.hewett@ tions and campaigns. dods.eu or phone + 32 (0) 2 285 0922 The awards were held for the first time last Detlev Samland 1953 2009 We have all been saddened by the unexpected death on 9 July of Detlev Samland at the age of 56. He was leading a life full of creativity and energy. Since 2001 Detlev had greatly influenced Pleon and had been the driving force of the development of our public affairs services in Germany and throughout Europe. As a member of Pleon’s European board and European public affairs director, Detlev was responsible for the practice across our offices in Europe. In this way he put his political career, spanning more than three decades in Germany and the EU, in a new context. His muchrespected abilities and leadership qualities motivated us each day and nourished our desire to always move further. We now mourn our highly appreciated colleague and sound adviser, and express every sympathy to his mother, family and friends. By Timo Sieg, Frank Behrendt, Christiane Schulz, Peter Strieder and Cornelius Winter, on behalf of all partners and Pleon staff August 2009 | PublicAffairsNews | 13 August 2009 DS AR – AW S N ER IDE S PA W INN E IN SE www.publicaffairsnews.c inside this issue Chemicals lobby suspended from Commission’s register Complaint from Friends of the Earth Europe over CEFIC’s declared spend triggers action By ian hall MP S IN OUR MIDST? The PPCs who work in lobbying Ideas sent in so far for our ’50 Best Lobbying Campaigns Ever’ ranking... ...keep them coming to top50campaigns@publicaf news PPCs take jobs as public affairs consultants Conservative election candidate launches own PA consultancy; another takes role at PLMR The Conservatives’ PPC for Yeovil, Kevin Davis, has launched a public affairs consultancy named Cratus, after the Greek god of strength. Davis told PAN that clie news Lobby register for France paris: France’s Parliament is introducing a register of lobbyists as the global trend towards regulation of the profession takes in another European country. The register – which will only be voluntary – is to launch at the start of the next parliamentary session in O news McCarthy joins 4Children Whitehall expert is new public affairs director at young people’s charity National children’s charity 4Children has recruited a former special adviser in four Whitehall departments as its top lobbyist. Claire McCarthy has just started as director of public affairs, aim New-biz round-up Your essential monthly digest of organisations appointing or changing consultancies CONSUMER FORUM • BRITISH WIND ENERGY ASSOCIATION • ABI • PORT OF DOVER • PREMIER INN • KINGFISHER • World HEPATITIS ALLIANCE Association of British Insurers – Hanover The Association of British Insu news Holiday lets job for Edelman Mobilisation on cards to fight planned reform of Furnished Home Lettings rules Edelman has been appointed by the Holiday Cottages Group (HCG) – the UK’s largest holiday-cottage agency – to lobby against proposed changes to tax rules on holiday lettings. Chancellor news people moves Ofwat has hired David Hackett to the new role of European affairs manager. Hackett, who has previously worked for organisations including the East of England Development Agency, reports to head of public affairs Ian Hulme. www.publicaffairsnews.c Union Unite’s group launches Unio Media How political rivals are faring in the press commons incheS: Burnham, Lansley and Lamb rival PARLIAMENTARIANS’ press coverage – number of mentions 22 20 Number of UK national newspaper articles mentioning MP 18 16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 1 July 2 July 3 July 4 July 5 July 6 July 7 July 8 July 9 J Consultation tracker Your essential monthly digest of new consultations of interest to the public affairs community NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN LONDON • RADIOACTIVE WASTE • MOTORSPORT AND AEROSPACE • UNLICENSED MEDICINES • DIABETES CARE CONSULTATIONS LAUNCHED IN THE PAST month DCSF – Allegations of abuse a european news US Chamber hunts director Brussels role created to champion the ‘reduction of regulatory barriers’ BRUSSELS: The US Chamber of Commerce is hunting an executive director for its Brussels office to ‘advocate a pro-business agenda before European policymakers’. The person taking the newl european news european News in brief WHY THE CONSERVATIVES MATTER: ON PAN www.publicaffairsnews.c ONLINE 17JUL The Conservatives in the European Parliament could prove to be more powerful than ever in their new grouping – and should be ignored by lobbyists ‘at their peril’. That is the advice of Da european news End of an era for agency boss Alistair McLeish steps down at Central and Eastern European specialist MMD BUDAPEST/MOSCOW: Huntsworthbecomes Dobson’s deputy, owned Central and Eastern while remaining Eurasia chief. European (CEE) corporate Lock, who joined MMD in 2004, comms and public BAR . RESTAURANT . CAFÉ Located moments from the Houses of Parliament Catering for events 10-180 people Exclusive Hire Meetings and Conferences Bar and Café Area Four Millbank, London SW1P 3JA Four Millbank, London SW1P 3JA Tel: 020 7233 0032 Tel: 020 7233 0032 Fax: 020 7233 0010 Fax: 020 7233 0010 think-tank news Interim PR chief at ODI The Overseas Development Institute (ODI) is to launch a recruitment search in the ‘early autumn’ to replace head of comms Antony Robbins, who has moved to the same role at the Museum of London. The ODI – which won Think-Tank of the Year at the 2007 PAN Awards U derstand ng g vernment fr m e ery ang e To find out how we can help you, please contact: London Simon Nayyar Citigate Dewe Rogerson t. +44 (0)20 7282 2835 simon.nayyar@citigatedr Edinburgh John Mullin Citigate Dewe Rogerson t. +44 (0)131 225 8024 john.mullin@citigatedr. Brussels Samantha Seewoos opinion – leader editor’s COMMENT Paris leapfrogs Westminster in the race to regulate hose following the halting, haphazard progress towards regulation of the sector in Westminster and Brussels will be interested to read our report (p4) that the French Parliament has become the latest legislature t opinion – pan panel Q HOT TOPIC: FRANCE’S LOBBY REGISTER [ THE QUESTION: Do you foresee problems? Fabrice Alexandre Managing Partner, Communication Institutions (C I) France’s Parliament has become the latest national legislature to commit to introducing a register of lobbyists – albeit a volun opinion – columnists ed vaizey MP COMMENT kevin maguire JOURNALIST COMMENT Some ideas as PAN compiles Why there’s rising interest in its ‘top 50’ campaigns ranking the ‘approachable’ Lib Dems his magazine’s quest to research the ‘50 Best Lobbying Campaigns Ever’ strikes me as a laudable but ver Profile – MILES CELIC The Man United fan who is the new Man from the Pru After Oxford University, and working for companies including Fishburn Hedges and HSBC, Miles Celic recently landed the top public affairs job at FTSE 100 insurance giant Prudential. Not bad for a ‘working-class’ Salford lad, s PROFILE – MILES CELIC His parents were not much involved in politics: originally from Yugoslavia, forging a life in a new country, they wanted to keep their heads down and work hard. “It was a classic working-class immigrant background,” says Celic. Celic made his way from the local state school to LOBBYISTS AND PARLIAMENT MPs in our midst? In the fourth installment of our ‘Lobbyists and Parliament’ series, Ian Hall finds out how many of the next election’s confirmed prospective parliamentary candidates (PPCs) work in public affairs/communications Philip Allott COMMS/PA JOB: Founding managing LOBBYISTS AND PARLIAMENT Darren Caplan COMMS/PA JOB: Director of B2L Public Affairs in London STANDING FOR: Conservatives in Hackney North and Stoke Newington Richard Clein COMMS/PA JOB: Associate director at Bell Pottinger North STANDING FOR: Lib Dems in Sefton Central Damian Collins COMMS/PA JO LOBBYISTS AND PARLIAMENT ned six of the ‘Eyes on the prize’: in July last year PAN conve e; this feature listed in this edition for an extended featur PPCs in PAN’s ‘Lobbyists and Parliament’ series was the first Nick Clegg: the current leader of the Liberal Democrats formerly worked at GJW Govern recruitment appointments August 2009 | PublicAffairsNews | 25 electus making the right connection Go on! Make the leap! Electus is the natural recruitment partner in public affairs and corporate communications For an informative, yet confidential, conversation with one of our consultants please call 020 7091 7570 or visit www.electus-group.com “STEVE ATACK IS ONE OF EUROPE’S MOST RESPECTED EXECUTIVE SEARCH CONSULTANTS IN PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT RELATIONS BUT HE ALSO UNDERTAKES SIGNIFICANT ASSIGNMENTS IN RELATED FIELDS INCLUDING ASSISTING CONSULTANCIES ACQUIRE OTHERS, THE CREATION OF INTERNATIONAL STRATEGIC ALLIANCES AND PROVIDING GU Thursday 5 November 2009 The Claridge, Brussels Nominations are now open: www.theparliament.com/e Campaign of the year Consultancy of the year Consultant of the year Corporate Public Affairs Professional of the year In-house Communications Team of the year NGO of the year Personality of the year Th bridge_195_60 copy.pdf 16/12/2008 10:57:14 classified C M POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE Dods Monitoring is a specialist political information provider delivering real-time monitoring to the political and policymaking community, from multinational corporations to trade associations, government agencies out and about my life CRAIG JONES Head of media and public affairs Legal Services Board Where do you live? Near Liverpool Street. I have been in the central-east bit of London since moving here four years ago. What’s your media diet? The comment pages of all the broadsheets at breaks during the day out and about All group shots are captioned left to right. To include photos of your event, send images to ian.hall@publicaffairsn Chris Quigley, CIOT head of external relations Simon Goldie and Makis Galiatsatos of the European Parliament’s UK office Fleishman-Hillard (F-H) Brussels summer cocktai Get your communications team the recognition it deserves The PRCA represents over 150 of the UK’s top PR firms. Because the best PR comes from agencies and in-house teams working together, we’re inviting in-house communications teams to join us as Associate Members, helping you ensure you have the