Hanover Communications
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This article is part of the Lobbying Portal, a sunlight project from Spinwatch. |
Hanover Communications is a UK-based PR and lobbying firm founded in 1998 by Charles Lewington. The firm was known as Media Strategy until 2007. It lobbies for a large number of pharmaceutical companies (see clients below).
Contents
Controversies, conflicts of interest and the revolving door
'Cash for access'
Hanover was criticised in September 2007 in what was dubbed a 'cash for access' story. A strategy document that Hanover had produced suggested it could organise a trip to Downing Street as part of a £181,000 bid to run the Medical Technology Group, a coalition of industry and patient groups linked to the Association of British Healthcare Industries (ABHI).
According to a report in The Sunday Telegraph, the pitch suggested Hanover would try to secure a picture with Gordon Brown for £5,100. It also claimed that it would seek access to Dawn Primarolo, the Paymaster General. The package was offered for Medical Technology Week, in which a group of patients visits the Treasury, Department of Health and No 10. “We will work to secure photocalls with ministers. The key photocall will be with Gordon Brown,” it says. A document sent to the ABHI also mentions Nicola Murphy, a former adviser to Mr Brown.
Ms Murphy was to join Hanover as an associate director the following month. The pitch says: “As well as ... a five-year spell in the Treasury, Nicola has been working in the Prime Minister’s private parliamentary office for 12 months handling Gordon Brown’s leadership election.”[1]
Revolving door
Many Hanover staffers have backgrounds in politics.
In April 2014 former Department of Environment and Climate Change (DECC) policy adviser Alison Woodhouse joined the firm as head of its energy and resources division. A month later Hanover secured Julia Goldsworthy, longstanding Treasury SPaD to Danny Alexander and former shadow Lib Dem, chief secretary to the Treasury, as a senior policy adviser. Goldsworthy has been re-selected as Lib Dem candidate for Camborne and Redruth, a seat she lost by just 66 votes to the Tories in 2010. [2]
People
- Charles Lewington. Founder and MD.
- Laura Chisholm. Senior Account Director. Chisholm joined in August 2008 from financial sector lobbying firm Cicero and is a former lobbyist at HBOS and environment desk officer in the shadow Conservative cabinet. She was hired to head up a new advisory service for financial clients. In October 2010 she was the lead for new Hanover client Goldman Sachs.
- Alison Woodhouse. Former strategic policy manager at the Department for Energy and Climate Change until April 2014 when she took over as Hanover's head of energy and resources (announced February 2014).
- Julia Goldsworthy - former special advisor from 2010-14 to Lib Dem Danny Alexander at the UK Treasury
March-May 2014
Robert Akam | Josh Arnold-Forster | Rohini Bajekal | Wil Barber | Aimee Bateas | Jim Baxter | Alex Berwin | Katie Blower | Thomas Bond | Jennifer Brindisi | Francesca Brown | Andrew Byrne | Chris Calland | Anthonie Chiu Smit | James Cruickshank | Benjamin Davies | Joe Derry-Malone | Paula Diaz Rodriguez | Maria Edvardsson | Joe Eldridge | Daniel Gilbert | Sam Graham | Swantje Green | Henry Groundes-Peace | Hamish Hardie | Matthew Hare-Scott | Zara Harington | Andrew Harrison | Christian Hierholzer | Zoe Horwich | Viv Jemmett | Enda Joyce | Orestis Kalliantzidis | Benjamin Krieger | Patricia Lamas Sanchez | Allsa Logan | Sophie Longley | Rosie Luff | Rebecca Lynch | Davide Marchi | Rhoda McDonald | Lucy Meade | Gavin Megaw | Sophia Miller | Deena Mistry | Samir Nanji | Louise Nathanson | Kieran O'Connell | Ariane Platell | Steve Richards | Emily Rowe | Mark Saxon | Caterina Serenelli | Charlie Simon | Adam Smiley | Harry Smith | Tristan Suffys | Nisha Tailor | Katie Thurston | John Toher | Alexandra Varkyakova | Gonzalo Vina | Andra Voinea | Toby Ward | Chris Woods | Matthew Worrall [3]
December 2013-February 2014
Robert Akam | Josh Arnold-Forster | Rohini Bajekal | Wil Barber | Aimee Bateas | Jim Baxter | Alex Berwin | Katie Blower | Thomas Bond | Jennifer Brindisi | Edward Brown | Andrew Byrne | Chris Calland | Laura Chisholm | Anthonie Chiu Smit | Benjamin Davies | Joe Derry-Malone | Dan Doherty | Joe Eldridge | Daniel Gilbert | Lucy Gilchrist | Sophie Goodall | Sam Graham | Swantje Green | Henry Groundes-Peace | James Gurling | Hamish Hardie | Matthew Hare-Scott | Zara Harington | Andrew Harrison | Christian Hierholzer | Zoe Horwich | Tamara Jackson | Enda Joyce | Orestis Kalliantzidis | Benjamin Krieger | Patricia Lamas Sanchez | Charles Lewington | Allsa Logan | Sophie Longley | Rosie Luff | Davide Marchi | Rhoda McDonald | Lucy Meade | Gavin Megaw | Deena Mistry | Louise Nathanson | Kieran O'Connell | Manuel Ordoez de Barraicua | Ariane Platell | Helen Rance | Steve Richards | Emily Rowe | Mo Saqib | Mark Saxon | Charlie Simon | Adam Smiley | Harry Smith | Tristan Suffys | Nisha Tailor | Katie Thurston | Gonzalo Vina | Toby Ward | Chris Woods | Victoria Woods | Matthew Worrall[4]
September 2013-November 2013
Robert Akam | Josh Arnold-Forster | Rohini Bajekal | Wil Barber | Aimee Bateas | Jim Baxter | Alex Berwin | Katie Blower | Jennifer Brindisi | Andrew Byrne | Chris Calland | Laura Chisholm | Benjamin Davies | Joe Derry-Malone | Dan Doherty | Joe Eldridge | Daniel Gilbert | Lucy Gilchrist | Sophie Goodall | Sam Graham | Swantje Green | Henry Groundes-Peace | James Gurling | Hamish Hardie | Matthew Hare-Scott | Zara Harington | Andrew Harrison | Christian Hierholzer | Zoe Horwich | Tamara Jackson | Enda Joyce | Orestis Kalliantzidis | Benjamin Krieger | Patricia Lamas Sanchez | Charles Lewington | Ailsa Logan | Rosie Luff | Davide Marchi | Rhoda McDonald | Lucy Meade | Gavin Megaw | Deena Mistry | Louise Nathanson | Paula Nugent | Kieran O'Connell | Manuel Ordoez de Barraicua | Giulia Pastorella | Ariane Platell | Helen Rance | Emily Rowe | Mo Saqib | Mark Saxon | Rebecca Simon | Charlie Simon | Jessica Simpson | Adam Smiley | Harry Smith | Sarah Thompson | Katie Thurston | Gonzalo Vina | Toby Ward | Chris Woods | Victoria Woods | Matthew Worrall | Amy Yiannitsarou [5]
June 2013-August 2013
Robert Akam | Josh Arnold-Forster | Shawana Badat | Rohini Bajekal | Wil Barber | Aimee Bateas | Jim Baxter | Katie Blower | Jennifer Brindisi | Andrew Byrne | Chris Calland | Laura Chisholm | Benjamin Davies | Joe Derry-Malone | Joe Eldridge | Daniel Gilbert | Lucy Gilchrist | Marco Gilmour | Sophie Goodhall | Sam Graham | Swantje Green | Henry Groundes-Peace | James Gurling | Matthew Hare-Scott | Zara Harington | Andrew Harrison | Christian Hierholzer | Harry Hill | Zoe Horwich | Tamara Jackson | Enda Joyce | Benjamin Krieger | Patricia Lamas Sanchez | Charles Lewington | Allsa Logan | Rosie Luff | Davide Marchi | Rhoda McDonald | Lucy Meade | Gavin Megaw | Deena Mistry | Louise Nathanson | Paula Nugent | Kieran O'Connell | Manuel Ordoez de Barraicua | Manuel Ordonez de Barraicua | Giulia Pastorella | Sarah Pearson | Ariane Platell | Rosie Renouf | Emily Rowe | Mark Saxon | Yasmin Sheikh | Rebecca Simon | Adam Smiley | Harry Smith | Katarzyna Syska | Sarah Thompson | Katie Thurston | Gonzalo Vina | Toby Ward | Chris Woods | Victoria Woods | Matthew Worrall [6]
March 2013-May 2013
Robert Akam | Josh Arnold-Forster | Rohini Bajekal | Aimee Bateas | Jim Baxter | Katie Blower | Jennifer Brindisi | Andrew Byrne | Jay Chavda | Laura Chisholm | Georgina Conde | Benjamin Davies | Joe Derry-Malone | Emma Eatwell | Joe Eldridge | Daniel Gilbert | Lucy Gilchrist | Marco Gilmour | Sophie Goodhall | Sam Graham | Swantje Green | Henry Groundes-Peace | James Gurling | Matthew Hare-Scott | Zara Harington | Andrew Harrison | Christian Hierholzer | Zoe Horwich | Tamara Jackson | Ed Jones | Enda Joyce | Benjamin Krieger | Patricia Lamas Sanchez | Charles Lewington | Allsa Logan | Rosie Luff | Davide Marchi | Rhoda McDonald | Lucy Meade | Gavin Megaw | Claire Morgans | Louise Nathanson | Kieran O'Connell | Manuel Ordoez de Barraicua | Manuel Ordonez de Barraicua | Giulia Pastorella | Sarah Pearson | Ariane Platell | Rebecca Rentoul | Emily Rowe | Mark Saxon | Anna Sellers | Yasmin Sheikh | Rebecca Simon | Harry Smith | Katarzyna Syska | Katie Thurston | Toby Ward | Chris Woods | Victoria Woods | Matthew Worrall[7]
December 2012-February 2013
Robert Akam | Josh Arnold-Forster | Rohini Bajekal | Aimee Bateas | Jim Baxter | Katie Blower | Jennifer Brindisi | Andrew Byrne | Jay Chavda | Laura Chisholm | Georgina Conde | Michael Cooper | Benjamin Davies | Joe Derry-Malone | Emma Eatwell | Joe Eldridge | Daniel Gilbert | Lucy Gilchrist | Sophie Goodall | Sam Graham | Swantje Green | James Gurling | Matthew Hare-Scott | Zara Harington | Andrew Harrison | Christian Hierholzer | Zoe Horwich | Tamara Jackson | Ed Jones | Enda Joyce | Benjamin Krieger | Patricia Lamas Sanchez | Charles Lewington | AIlsa Logan | Rhoda Macdonald | Jacopa Marcomeni | Lucy Meade | Gavin Megaw | Anamaria Missouri | Claire Morgans | Louise Nathanson | Kieran O'Connell | Manuel Ordoñez de Barraicua | Giulia Pastorella | Sarah Pearson | Ariane Platell | Mohamed Qutab | Kate Roche | Ella Rose | Emily Rowe | Mark Saxon | Anna Sellers | Rebecca Simon | Harry Smith | Katarzyna Syska | Elise Tarkianinen | Katie Thurston | Patrick Van Leeuwen | Ingo Wagner | Toby Ward | Chris Woods | Victoria Woods | Matthew Worrall[8]
Former staff
- Nick King was appointed as special adviser to Culture Minister Maria Miller in October 2012 after working just four months as a senior account director at Hanover Communications.
- Rebecca Simon[9][10]
- Lucy Gilchrist was appointed a Senior Account director in November 2010 [11] and handled clients such as fracking firm Cuadrilla until she left in February 2014 to become head of external affairs at PepsiCo
- Sarah Richards
- James Gurling
- Robert Sullivan
- Alessandra McKenna
- Louise Fish
- Alexa Knight
- Sarah Pearson
Clients
Lobbying for the booze industry
In Sept 2007 drinks giant Diageo hired lobbying firm Hanover Communications as its retained UK public affairs agency, to help it in what Diageo described as "challenging policy environment" - The Government was stepping up its efforts to curb binge-drinking. Diageo is thought to be paying Hanover at least £100,000 a year. Hanover MD Charles Lewington said: ‘We will be helping Diageo to raise awareness of its responsible-drinking activities in government. We will also be advising on ongoing discussions with officials about the best way of promoting responsible consumption.’[12]
Lobbying for bankers
In October 2010 Goldman Sachs appointed Hanover as 'fresh agency backing in the UK to help it to keep abreast of the coalition government’s plans for the banking sector" according to Public Affair News. Hanover is working alongside Lexington Communications providing UK political consultancy, and Cicero Consulting, which provides Goldman with EU monitoring. Leading the account for Hanover is senior account director Laura Chisholm.[13]
In April 2011 the Association for Financial Markets in Europe (AFME) secured Hanover to raise its profile across Europe. Formed in late 2009, the AFME lobbies national and international governmental institutions on behalf of the financial industry against what it deems to be unnecessary regulation. The account is thought to be worth in excess of six figures annually, and was to be led by director Laura Chisholm. [14]
Lobbying for frackers
Hanover handles two high-profile accounts for controversial firm Cuadrilla and Irish shale explorer Tamboran. Both companies also use other lobbying firms.
Client Registers
1st March 2014 - 31st May 2014
3UK, Accenture, Airbus Group Alliance Medical, American Pharmaceutical Group, Abbot, Amgen, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Janssen-Cilag Ltd, Lilly, Merk, Pfizer, Amgen, Association of Financial Markets in Europe, Blackberry, Bounty, British Insurance Brokers' Association British Poultry Council, BSkyB, Cuadrilla, Deltex Medical, DHL, EuropaBio, Financial Services Compensation Scheme, Goldman Sachs, H.E.A.R.T. UK, HCA, John Lewis Partnership, Lancaster Investment Management, Lilly UK, Lloyds Banking Group, McKesson, MetLife, Microsoft, MSD, Napp, National Football League, Open Government Partnership, Shire, Tamboran, Tata Consultancy Services, The Crown Estate, UCB, United Health UK/Optum, Valero.[3]
December 2013-February 2014
3UK | Accenture | Alliance Medical | American Chamber of Commerce to the European Union | American Pharmaceutical Group | Amgen | Association of Financial Markets in Europe | Blackberry | Bounty | British Beer and Pub Association | British Poultry Council | BSkyB | Commercial Broadcasters Association | Cuadrilla | Deltex Medical | EADS / Airbus Group | EuropaBio | Financial Services Compensation Scheme | Goldman Sachs | Government of Alberta | H.E.A.R.T. UK | HCA | John Lewis Partnership | Kent and Medway | HS and Social Care Partnership Trust | Lilly UK | Lloyds Banking Group | McKesson | Microsoft | MSD | Napp | National Football League | Nomura | Novamont | Open Government Partnership | Shell | Shire | Southbank Centre | Tamboran | Tata Consultancy Services | Tata Steel | The Crown Estate | UCB | United Health UK / Optum | Valero [4]
September 2013-November 2013
3UK | [[Accenture[] | Alliance Medical | American Chamber of Commerce to the European Union | American Pharmaceutical Group | Amgen | Association of Financial Markets in Europe | Blackberry | British Beer and Pub Association | British Poultry Council | BSkyB | Commercial Broadcasters Association | Cuadrilla | Deltex Medical | EADS | EuropaBio | Financial Services Compensation Scheme | Goldman Sachs | Government of Alberta | H.E.A.R.T. UK | HCA | John Lewis Partnership | Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust | Lilly UK | Lloyds Banking Group | McKesson | Microsoft | MSD | Napp | Nomura | Open Government Partnership | Shell | Shire | Tamboran | Tata Consultancy Services | Tata Steel | UCB | United Health UK | Valero [5]
June 2013-August 2013
3UK | Accenture | Alliance Medical | American Pharmaceutical Group | Amgen | Association of Financial Markets in Europe | Blackberry | British Beer and Pub Association | British Poultry Council | BSkyB | Cuadrilla | Deltex Medical | EADS | Financial Services Compensation Scheme | GEMS Education | Goldman Sachs | Government of Alberta | H.E.A.R.T. UK | HCA | i-CD Publishing | John Lewis | Lilly UK | Lloyds Banking Group | McKesson | Microsoft | New College of the Humanities | Nomura | Omya | Open Government Partnership | PACT | Sanofi | Shire | Tata Consulting Services | Tata Steel | UCB | United Health UK | Valero [6]
March 2013-May 2013
3UK | Accenture | Alliance Medical | American Pharmaceutical Group | Amgen | Association of Financial Markets in Europe | Blackberry | British Beer and Pub Association | British Poultry Council | BSkyB | Cuadrilla | Deltex Medical | EADS | Financial Services Compensation Scheme | GEMS Education | Goldman Sachs | Government of Alberta | H.E.A.R.T. UK | HCA | i-CD Publishing | Jacobs | John Lewis | Lilly UK | Lloyds Banking Group | McKesson | Microsoft | New College of the Humanities | Nomura | Omya | Open Government Partnership | Sanofi | Shire | Standard Life | Tata Consulting Services | UCB | United Health UK[7]
December 2012-February 2013
3UK | Absence Manager | Alliance Medical | American Pharmaceutical Group | Amgen | Association of British Insurers | Association of Financial Markets in Europe | British Beer and Pub Association | British Poultry Council | BSkyB | Deltex Medical | EADS | Financial Services Compensation Scheme | GEMS Education | Goldman Sachs | Government of Alberta | H.E.A.R.T. UK | HCA | i-CD Publishing | Jacobs | John Lewis | Lilly UK | Lloyds Banking Group | McKesson | Microsoft | New College of the Humanities | Nomura | Open Government Partnership | Research in Motion | Sanofi | Standard Life | Tata Consulting Services | UCB | United Health UK[8]
1 June - 31 August 2011
Alliance Medical | American Pharmaceutical Group (APG) | B&Q | BSkyB | British Beer and Pub Association | Deltex Medical | Chartered Management Institute (CMI) | Edison Learning | Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) | GE | Goldman Sachs | Government of Alberta | H.E.A.R.T. UK | Hewlett Packard Enterprise Solutions | HomeSun| i-CD Publishing | Jaguar Land Rover London Metropolitan University | Microsoft | NHS National Screening Committee | Nomura | Novartis | Pearson UK | Producers Alliance for Cinema and Television (PACT) | Santander | Sanofi-Aventis | SITA UK | Smith and Nephew | United Health[15]
Feb 2009
3 UK | Abbey | Alliance Medical | American Pharmaceutical Group (APG). Comprising: (Abbot | Amgem | Bristol-Myers Squibb | Janssen-Cilag | Lilly | Merck Sharp & Dohme | Pfizer | Proctor & Gamble Pharmaceuticals | Schering-Plough | Wyeth) | AstraZeneca | Bavarian Nordic | BSkyB | Cancer Partners UK | Deltex Medical | Diageo | EDAP TMS | Fortis | Hospital Corporation of America | H.E.A.R.T. UK | Hertfordshire Oil Storage | Hutchison Whampoa (Europe) Ltd | Lockheed Martin UK | Microsoft | Monitor | Novartis | Police Federation | Pru Health | Royal British Legion | Sanofi-aventis | Unilever | United Health | Wyeth[16]
September 2008
Alliance Medical | American Pharmaceutical Group | Apposite Capital | Association of British Healthcare Industries | Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry | AstraZeneca | Bavarian Nordic | Cholesterol UK | Cancer Partners UK | Cass Business School | Celerant Consulting | Diageo | Defence Medical Welfare Service | Deltex Medical | Dimbleby Cancer Care | Dr Foster Intelligence | DMWS - The St. John and Red Cross Defence Medical Welfare Service | Edap | Fortis | Global Value | Hertfordshire Oil Storage Ltd | Hospital Corporation of America | Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority | HEART UK | Hutchison 3G (UK) | Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales | Intelligent Finance | Kepner-Tregoe | Lockheed Martin | Menzies Aviation | Mizuho International | Monitor | Monterrico Metals | Nationwide | Nationwide Commercial | Nikko Investments | pfeg | Police Federation | The Portland Hospital for Woman and Children | The Priory Group | Rio Tinto | Royal British Legion | SafeHands for Mothers | SAGA | Schering-Plough | Shell Foundation | Social Enterprise Coalition | NHS Cancer Screening Programmes | NHS Sickle Cell & Thalassaemia Screening Programme | Ramsay Healthcare UK | Teachers' TV | The Leadership Centre for Local Government | Unilever | United Health Europe | Wates | Wyeth[17]
Affiliations
Contact, References and Resources
Contact
100 Gray's Inn Road
London
WC1X 8AL
- Website: www.hanovercomms.com
References
- ↑ Sam Coates, "Denial from Downing St as lobbyist offers trips to No 10", The Times, 24 September 2007, accessed 28 November 2008
- ↑ By Stephen Tall, Julia Goldsworthy re-selected as Lib Dem candidate for Camborne and Redruth, quits as Danny Alexander’s SpAd, Liberal Democrat Voice, Wed 5th March 2014
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 APPC Register for 1st March 2014 - 31st May 2014Association of Professional Political Consultants accessed September 2014
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Consultancies – December 2013 to February 2014 PRCA, accessed 30 September 2014
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Consultancies - September 2013 to November 2013 PRCA, accessed 30 September 2014
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Consultancies - June 2013 to August 2013 PRCA, accessed 30 September 2014
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Consultancies - March 2013 to May 2013 PRCA, accessed 30 September 2014
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Consultancies - December 2012 to February 2013 PRCA, accessed 30 September 2014
- ↑ The Week in Lobbying. Hired as a new senior consultant from Labour Friends of Israel (LFI).Simon was deputy director at LFI. (Accessed: 13 October 2008).
- ↑ Hanover Website Our people accessed 24th September 2008
- ↑ Hanover Lucy Gilchrist - Senior Account Director, accessed 25 February 2011
- ↑ Diageo hires Hanover as alcohol concerns grow, PR Week, 20 Sept 2007
- ↑ [Goldman Sachs brings in Hanover for public affairs support http://www.publicaffairsnews.com/no_cache/home/uk-news/news-detail/newsarticle/goldman-sachs-brings-in-hanover-for-public-affairs-support/2/?tx_ttnews[pointer]=10&cHash=01c19bd27c], Public Affairs News, 4 October 2010, accessed 10 March 2011
- ↑ Alec Mattinson, Association for Financial Markets in Europe brings in Hanover to raise EU profile prweek.com, 22 March 2011,
- ↑ APPC register, quarter to 31 August 2011, acc 6 October 2011
- ↑ APPC register, to Nov 2009
- ↑ Hanover Website What we do accessed 24th September 2008
- ↑ Co-Sponsored event: talk by Jeremy Hunt, 29 October 2008