Blue Rubicon

This article is part of the Lobbying Portal, a sunlight project from Spinwatch.

Blue Rubicon is a PR and lobbying consultancy, established in 1999 by Fraser Hardie and Chris Jones. Bought and then merged with Open Road in 2014.

Since July 2015 it has been owned by multinational advisory consultancy Teneo.

Merge with Open Road

In February 2014, Blue Rubicon bought and merged with consultancy Open Road in a part cash, part equity deal. The deal saw Open Road's 21 team members merge into Blue Rubicon's. It is thought the two will remain separate first but will start to work together on projects.

Bought by Teneo

In July 2015 it emerged that Teneo had bought British lobbying firm Blue Rubicon. All members of the Blue Rubicon senior management team will continue as part of the Teneo leadership team.

On the acquisition, Teneo CEO and chairman Declan Kelly said:

'The acquisition of Blue Rubicon and StockWell is a transformational moment for Teneo as we continue to grow across the globe, building on our reputation as one of the world's leading advisory firms'.

Blue Rubicon senior partner Fraser Hardie said:

'We are incredibly excited about becoming part of Teneo. We're bringing together a compelling combination of skills to meet growing demand for reputation-related advice at a time when CEOs and boards look increasingly to manage reputation more strategically and across the whole enterprise.

'Many now see the systematic growth of trust as providing the oxygen in which to do business - a vital element which maintains strategic freedom, accelerates transitions and cements competitive advantage'.

Lobbying for the corporate education industry

Blue Rubicon has a number of lobbying clients that are pushing for reform of education systems that benefit corporate interests. These include, or have recently included:

• Google
• Facebook
• Pearson (to 2014)

Safina Mirza, who was an Associate Director at Blue Rubicon until June 2015, says she ‘worked closely with Pearson Education to raise awareness of their global brand by developing and rolling out a common narrative throughout their territories. Safina was also responsible for updating Pearson’s newsroom functions, enabling press teams to react to breaking news and to plan ahead for proactive press announcements’. She was previously head of marketing and communications at the Learning and Skills Council

People

• Alastair Gornall, chairman. Founder of Scope Communications (now part of Ketchum) and Consolidated Communications, former CEO of Reed Exhibitions Ltd. Currently has a 'plural' career where he acts as chairman, director and advisor for a range of media organisations including Gartner Inc and Centaur Media plc.
• Fraser Hardie, founder.
• Gordon Tempest-Hay, CEO. Former private secretary to the minister of state at the Department for Work and Pensions, and deputy managing director at Fishburn Hedges. Also ex-head of corporate affairs for the Edexcel Foundation.
• Graham McMillan, CEO and founder of Open Road.
• Nick DeLuca, founding director. Began his career in the US working with Jim Florio in his bid to become Governor of New Jersey, Bill Bradley in his first campaign to represent New Jersey in the Senate and as an aide to Senator Edward M. Kennedy. Moved to the UK in the '80s working for Harry Greenway MP. Has also worked for consultants Westminster Strategy and APCO Worldwide.
• Chris Jones, founding partner. Former journalist with the BBC, ITN and regional newspapers.
• Chris Norton, managing director, Blue Rubicon London. Former special adviser to Alan Johnson MP and worked on the 1997, 2001 and 2005 Labour General Election campaigns.
• Patrick Loughran, director of strategy. Former special adviser to Peter Mandelson, Number 10 Downing Street and the Cabinet Office.
• Charles Stewart-Smith, director. Co-founder of consultancy Luther Pendragon and a founding director of Gplus in Brussels.
• Matthew Burchell, director of research and insight. Former special adviser to Peter Hain MP.
• Simon Taylor, associate. Former vice-president of external communications at Visa Europe, corporate affairs director and global director of crisis management at Cadbury plc and head of press and public affairs for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
• Mark Pack, associate director. Ran the Liberal Democrats online General Election campaign in 2001 and 2005.
• Matthew Hickley, head of media. Former journalist, most notably with the Daily Mail where he was defence and home affairs correspondent.
• Basil Towers, director and special adviser. Founder of Hesleden Partners, a reputation management business, which was acquired by Blue Rubicon in 2014.
• Sean Kemp, senior consultant. Former special adviser in Downing Street for the Liberal Democrats and head of media during the 2010 General Elections, where he prepared Nick Clegg for the first ever televised leaders' debates.

APPC Register

December 2015-February 2016

Anna Bage | Anna Bloch | Ben Bradley | Matthew Burchell | Rory Cronin | Nick DeLuca | Tom Denney | Jessica Frost | Hayley Fussell | Fraser Hardie | Emma Haselhurst | Anna Hatfield | Tom Hollywood | Annie Huddart | Alexa Knight | Martin Le Jeune | Andrew Lewin | Ben Lewis | Adam Marks | Hannah Marwood | Graham McMillan | Emily McQueen | Tom Morrison-Bell | Clarissa Nash | Mark Pack | David Radestock | Alex Rawle | Leo Rees | Rachel Rouse | Alex Savage | Gemma Scotcher | Charles Stewart-Smith | Gordon Tempest-Hay | Don Wallace | Peter Wasson | Meredith Williams

September 2015-November 2015

Anna Bage | Anna Bloch | Ben Bradley | Matthew Burchell | Rory Cronin | Nick DeLuca | Tom Denney | Jessica Frost | Hayley Fussell | Fraser Hardie | Emma Haselhurst | Anna Hatfield | Tom Hebbert | Annie Huddart | Sean Kemp | Alexa Knight | India Knight | Martin Le Jeune | Andrew Lewin | Ben Lewis | Adam Marks | Hannah Marwood | Graham McMillan | Emily McQueen | Tom Morrison-Bell | Clarissa Nash | Chris Norton | Mark Pack | David Radestock | Alex Rawle | Leo Rees | Rachel Rouse | Alex Savage | Gemma Scotcher | Charles Stewart-Smith | Gordon Tempest-Hay | Keisha Walcott | Don Wallace | Peter Wasson | Meredith Williams

June 2015-August 2015

Anna Bage | Zach Bevan | Anna Bloch | Ben Bradley | Matthew Burchell | Jessica Clayton | Rory Cronin | Nick DeLuca | Tom Denney | Jessica Frost | Hayley Fussell | Fraser Hardie | Emma Haselhurst | Anna Hatfield | Tom Hebbert | Annie Huddart | Sean Kemp | Alexa Knight | India Knight | Martin Le Jeune | Douglas Leeks | Andrew Lewin | Ben Lewis | Patrick Loughran | Adam Marks | Hannah Marwood | Graham McMillan | Emily McQueen | Tom Morrison-Bell | Chris Norton | Mark Pack | David Radestock | Alex Rawle | Leo Rees | Emily Ritchey | Rachel Rouse | Alex Savage | Gemma Scotcher | Charles Stewart-Smith | Gordon Tempest-Hay | Keisha Walcott | Don Wallace | Peter Wasson

March 2015-May 2015

Anna Bage | Anna Bloch | Ben Bradley | Matthew Burchell | Rory Cronin | Nick DeLuca | Tom Denney | Jessica Frost | Hayley Fussell | Fraser Hardie | Emma Haselhurst | Anna Hatfield | Annie Huddart | Sean Kemp | Alexa Knight | India Knight | Martin Le Jeune | Andrew Lewin | Ben Lewis | Patrick Loughran | Adam Marks | Hannah Marwood | Andrew May | Graham McMillan | Emily McQueen | Tom Morrison-Bell | Chris Norton | Mark Pack | Katherine Perry | David Radestock | Alex Rawle | Leo Rees | Christian Round | Alex Savage | Gemma Scotcher | Charles Stewart-Smith | Amanda Stuart | Gordon Tempest-Hay | Keisha Walcott | Don Wallace | Peter Wasson

December 2014-February 2015

Amna Ahmed | Anna Bage | Anna Bloch | Ben Bradley | Matthew Burchell | Rory Cronin | Nick DeLuca | Tom Denney | Jessica Frost | Hayley Fussell | Fraser Hardie | Emma Haselhurst | Anna Hatfield | Annie Huddart | Sean Kemp | Alexa Knight | India Knight | Martin Le Jeune | Andrew Lewin | Ben Lewis | Patrick Loughran | Sonia Malhotra | Adam Marks | Adam Marks | Hannah Marwood | Charles Maughan | Andrew May | Graham McMillan | Emily McQueen | Chris Norton | Ed O'Brien | Mark Pack | David Radestock | Alex Rawle | Alex Savage | Gemma Scotcher | Charles Stewart-Smith | Amanda Stuart | Simon Taylor | Gordon Tempest-Hay | Jon Waghorne | Keisha Walcott | Don Wallace

September 2014-November 2014

Amna Ahmed | Anna Bage | Anna Bloch | Ben Bradley | Ben Bradley | Matthew Burchell | Nick DeLuca | Tom Denney | Jessica Frost | Hayley Fussell | Fraser Hardie | Emma Haselhurst | Anna Hatfield | Annie Huddart | Sean Kemp | Alexa Knight | India Knight | Martin Le Jeune | Andrew Lewin | Ben Lewis | Patrick Loughran | Sonia Malhotra | Adam Marks | Adam Marks | Hannah Marwood | Charles Maughan | Andrew May | Graham McMillan | Emily McQueen | Chris Norton | Mark Pack | Vanessa Pine | David Radestock | Alex Rawle | Alex Savage | Gemma Scotcher | Charles Stewart-Smith | Simon Taylor | Gordon Tempest-Hay | Keisha Walcott | Don Wallace

June 2014-August 2014

Amna Ahmad | Anna Bage | Ben Bradley | Matthew Burchell | Nick de Luca | Tom Denney | Hayley Fussell | Alex Grethe | Fraser Hardie | Emma Haselhurst | Anna Hatfield | Annie Huddart | Chris Isaac | Sean Kemp | Alexa Knight | India Knight | Martin Le Jeune | Andrew Lewin | Ben Lewis | Patrick Loughran | Sonia Malhotra | Adam Marks | Hannah Marwood | Andrew May | Christine McKenna | Graham McMillan | Emily McQueen | Shirin Merola | Billie Morgan | Chris Norton | Mark Pack | Vanessa Pine | David Radestock | Alex Rawle | Rebecca Reilly | Simon Ruse | Gemma Scotcher | Charles Stewart-Smith | Hannah Talbot | Simon Taylor | Gordon Tempest-Hay | Keisha Walcott | Don Wallace | Hatty Woollard

March 2014-May 2014

Amna Ahmad | Matthew Burchell | Nick de Luca | Hayley Fussell | Fraser Hardie | Emma Haselhurst | Anna Hatfield | Annie Huddart | Chris Isaac | Sean Kemp | Alexa Knight | India Knight | Martin Le Jeune | Ben Lewis | Patrick Loughran | Sonia Malhotra | Hannah Marwood | Andrew May | Graham McMillan | Emily McQueen | Shirin Merola | Anamaria Missouri | Chris Norton | Mark Pack | Vanessa Pine | Alex Rawle | Rebecca Reilly | Simon Ruse | Alex Savage | Gemma Scotcher | Charles Stewart-Smith | Simon Taylor | Gordon Tempest-Hay | Don Wallace

Former Staff

• Spencer Livermore, Gordon Brown's former director of political strategy, joined Blue Rubicon as head of strategy and planning in January 2009. Livermore was one of the first senior figures to leave Brown’s inner circle, departing in early 2008 after Brown attracted heavy criticism for pulling the plug on an early election. Livermore had previously helped the Prime Minister to plan the strategy for the first 100 days of his premiership. He also worked closely with Brown throughout his time as chancellor after being appointed a special adviser in 1998.
  Livermore announced he would be leaving his role as director of strategy in 2013 to rejoin the Labour Party as campaign director for Douglas Alexander and Michael Dugher in the build up to the 2015 general election.

Clients

Registrar of consultant lobbyists

Blue Rubicon has been registered since March 2015. The register documents clients for whom Blue Rubicon has lobbied ministers of government. The listings since 2015 are as follows:

April - June 2016

Activision Blizzard | Airwave | Asda | Google | National Grid | Vodafone

January - March 2016

Airwave | EngineeringUK | Google | Mondelez | Vodafone

October - December 2015

Coca-Cola | Engineering UK | Google | Guardian Media Group | Novartis | The Dog's Trust | The Investment Association

July - September 2015

Airwave | Coca-Cola | Google | Novartis | Prudential | The Dogs Trust

April - June 2015

EngineeringUK | Facebook | Google | The Creative Industries Council

January - March 2015

Coca-Cola | EngineeringUK | Google | The University of Law | Vodafone

APPC lobbying register

December 2015-February 2016

ABB | Activision Blizzard | Affinity Sutton | Airwave | Asda | AstraZeneca | BBPA | BDO | BHP | Billiton | British Marine Federation | Coca-Cola | Dogs Trust | Drax Power | Engineering UK | ePure | Eurostar | Fifty Year Fight | Gala Coral | Google | Guardian Media Group | Housing Ombudsman Service | HSBC | Investment Association | MAXIMUS | Mondelez | National Grid | Newspaper Licensing Agency | Novartis | Prudential | Royal Mail | The Crown Estate | The Dow Chemical Company | UK Competitive Telecommunications Association(UKCTA) | Vodafone | World Fuel Services

September 2015-November 2015

ABB | Affinity Sutton | Airwave | Asda | AstraZeneca | BBPA | BDO | British Marine Federation | Coca-Cola | Cote Restaurants | Dignity in Dying | Dogs Trust | Engineering UK | ePure | Eurostar | Facebook | Fifty Year Fight | Gala Coral | Google | Guardian Media Group | HSBC | Investment Association | MAXIMUS | National Grid | Newspaper Licensing Agency | Novartis | Prudential | Royal Mail | The Crown Estate | The Lowry | UK Competitive Telecommunications Association (UKCTA) | Vodafone

June 2015-August 2015

Affinity Sutton | Airwave | Asda | AstraZeneca | BDO | British Marine Federation | Coca-Cola | Engineering UK | ePure | Eurostar | Facebook | Fifty Year Fight | Gala Coral Google | GSK | HSBC | Investment Association | M&G Investments | MAXIMUS | National Grid | Newspaper Licensing Agency | Novartis | One Family | Prudential | Royal Mail | The Crown Estate | The Lowry | University of Law | Vodafone

March 2015-May 2015

Affinity Sutton | Airwave | Asda | AstraZeneca | BDO | British Marine Federation | BUPA | Coca-Cola | Engineering UK | ePure | Eurostar | Facebook | Fifty Year Fight | Gala Coral | Google | GSK | HSBC | Investment Association | MAXIMUS | Mayfair Private Equity | Mobile Operators Association (MOA) | Mondelez | MSD (Merck Sharp & Dohme) | National Grid | Newspaper Licensing Agency | Novartis | One Family | Prudential | Royal Mail | Sanofi Pasteur MSD | The Crown Estate | The Lowry | UK Competitive Telecommunications Association | University of Law | Vodafone

December 2014-February 2015

Affinity Sutton | Airwave | Asda | AstraZeneca | BDO | British Marine Federation | BUPA | Coca-Cola | Cosmetic, Toiletry & Perfumery Association (CTPA) | Engineering UK | Eurostar | Facebook | Gala Coral | Genting | Google | GSK | HSBC | Investment Association | MAXIMUS | Mobile Operators Association (MOA) | Mondelez | MSD (Merck Sharp & Dohme) | National Grid | Newspaper Licensing Agency | Novartis | Prudential | Royal Mail | Sanofi Pasteur MSD | The Crown Estate | The Lowry | UK Competitive Telecommunications Association | University of Law | Vodafone

September 2014-November 2014

Airwave | Asda | AstraZeneca | BDO | BioIndustry Association | Bristol-Myers Squibb | British Marine Federation | British Metals Recycling Association | BUPA | Cancer Research UK | Coca-Cola | Engineering UK | Eurostar | Facebook | FXB International | Gala Coral | Genting | Google | GSK | Heathrow Airport | HSBC | Investment Managers Association | MSD (Merck Sharp & Dohme) | National Grid | Newspaper Licensing Agency | NHS Croydon CCG | Novartis | Pearson | Prudential | Resolution | Royal Mail | Sanofi Pasteur MSD | Skills for Care | The Lowry | UK Competitive Telecommunications Association | University of Law| Virgin Trains | Vodafone

June 2014-August 2014

Airwave | Aldridge Foundation | Allergan | Amazon EU | Asda | AstraZeneca | AstraZeneca / Bristol-Myers Squibb Alliance in Diabetes | BDO | BioIndustry Association | Bristol-Myers Squibb | British Marine Federation | British Metals Recycling Association | Cancer Research UK | Co-operative Bank | Coca-Cola | Engineering UK | Eurostar | Facebook | Gala Coral | Genting | Gilead | Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition | Global Strategy Group | Google | Heathrow Airport | Institute for Family Business | Investment Management Association | Lloyds Banking Group | MSD (Merck Sharp & Dohme) | National Grid | Newspaper Licensing Agency | NHS Croydon CCG | Novartis | Pearson | Prudential | Royal Mail | Sanofi Pasteur MSD | Skills for Care | Virgin Trains | Vodaphone

March 2014-May 2014

Airwave | Aldridge Foundation | Allergan | Amazon EU | Asda | AstraZeneca | AstraZeneca / Bristol-Myers Squibb Alliance in Diabetes BDO | BioIndustry Association | Bristol-Myers Squibb | British Metals Recycling Association | Co-operative Bank | Coca-Cola | Engineering UK | Eurostar | Facebook | Gala Coral | Genting | Gilead | Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition | Global Strategy Group | Heathrow Airport | Institute for Family Business | Investment Management Association | Lloyds Banking Group | National Grid | Newspaper Licensing Agency | Pearson | Prudential | Royal Mail | Sanofi Pasteur MSD | Skills for Care | Vodafone

2010

• Blue Rubicon has also previously handled Barclays' public affairs.

2008

British Gas | City & Guilds | Cosmetic, Toiletry and Perfumery Association | Cycling England | Diageo UK | eBay | GlaxoSmithKline Nutritional Healthcare | Heritage Lottery Fund | Peter Jones National Skills Academy for Enterprise | Royal Mail | Shell | The Lowry | Unilever UK & Ireland

Contact

5 Floor, 6 More London Place, London, SE1 2DA
Website: http://www.bluerubicon.com

References

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