Stephen Carter
|
This article is part of the Lobbying Portal, a sunlight project from Spinwatch. |
|
This article is part of the Revolving Door project of Spinwatch. |
Stephen Carter, Baron Carter of Barnes, is a Scottish politician and businessman and a former lobbyist and Downing Street spin doctor to Gordon Brown.
Carter was UK minister for communications, technology and broadcasting from 2008 to 2009.
He is currently the chief executive of information company Informa.
Baron Carter of Barnes is a life peer in the House of Lords, he became a member of the Lords on the 16 October 2008.
Career
Carter is a former founding chief executive of OfCom (2003-07) and of advertising agency J. Walter Thompson. He was a managing director at TV company NTL.
He joined PR and lobbying firm Brunswick Group in 2006 as group chief executive.[1]
Carter left Brunswick to become former UK prime minister Gordon Brown's chief strategist in January 2008. Brown and Brunswick founder Alan Parker have close ties; Brown is godfather to Parker's son.[2]
Carter's tenure was filled with controversy, including when he inadvertently sent an email to Brown recommending which staff should be sacked.[3].
During Carter's time as minister for communications, technology and broadcasting he delivered a report and white paper titled 'Digital Britain', which had the aim of creating the framework for a fast broadband and networking British economy and society of the future. Carter reportedly damaged the credibility of this report by resigning whilst it was still in legislative process.[4] Having just delivered his Digital Britain report and been named one of ten ministers serving under Lord Mandelson in the Department of Business, Carter announced he wanted to step down after only 18 months into his role with the government. [5]. Carter, who said his main interest was policy, claimed he was leaving government because it was entering its last year and the focus would be politics rather than policy.[6].
In July 2009 Carter notified ACOBA he would be receiving office and administrative support provided by LEK Consulting LLP. ACOBA saw "no reason why he should not accept the offer of an office and administrative support from LEK Consulting LLP on the understanding that, for three months after leaving office, he would not be working for them, advising them or offering services on the firm's behalf to any of their clients (this advice should be read with the separate advice for his independent consultancy work)."[7]
On top of notifying ACOBA about roles with LEK Consulting LLP and Alcatel-Lucent, he applied to ACOBA to become an independent consultant with various clients, who saw "no reason why he should not set up as an independent consultant and provide advice to clients subject to the conditions that, for nine months after leaving office, he should not accept work related to the implementation of measures outlined in the 'Digital Britain' White Paper and. for 12 months from the same date, he should not become personally involved in lobbying UK Ministers or Crown servants, including Special Advisers, on behalf of any client". He also notified them of his roles at speaking engagements, and they saw "no reason why he should not carry out speaking engagements provided that he does not draw on any privileged information which was available to him as a Minister".[7]
Carter's next role was as executive vice-president and chief marketing, strategy and communication officer at Alcatel-Lucent in Paris[6] and then president of its operations in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Whilst at Alcatel he was tasked with turning around the fortunes of the company who were struggling against cheaper rivals from Asia and innovative western groups. His role with Alcatel-Lucent was approved by ACOBA who saw "no reason why he should not take up the appointment subject to a waiting period of 9 months from his last day in office and the condition that, for 12 months from the same date, he should not become personally involved in lobbying UK Ministers or Crown servants, including Special Advisers, on behalf of his new employer."[7] In March 2013 Carter announced he would step down from his role in April, to move back to the UK.[8] In June 2010 he notified ACOBA he would be the board director of 2Wire Inc, as company representative of Alcatel-Lucent, they saw "no reason why he should not take up the appointment forthwith".[9]
In May 2010 he was appointed a non-executive director at Informa, ACOBA saw "no reason why he should not take up the appointment forthwith, subject to the condition that, for 12 months from his last day in office, he should not become personally involved in lobbying UK Ministers or Crown servants, including Special Advisers, on behalf of his new employer".[9] In the summer of 2013, he was named chief executive, taking over from the retiring Peter Rigby.[10]
Notes
- ↑ Report: Stephen Carter joining Brunswick PR Week, 6 December 20016, accessed 14 October 2014
- ↑ David Quainton Brunswick set to replace Carter PR Week, 11 January 2008, accessed 14 October 2014
- ↑ Holly Watt Adviser's email blunder about sackings 'split No10' The Telegraph, 2 February 2010, accessed 14 October 2014
- ↑ Maggie Brown Lord Carter joins telecoms supplier The Guardian, 3 March 2010, 14 October 2014
- ↑ Graham Smith Fresh blow for Brown as internet tsar Lord Carter becomes latest minister to quit Government The Daily Mail, 13 June 2009, accessed 14 October 2014
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Arun Sudhaman Alcatel-Lucent's Stephen Carter : Lunch with Lord Carter The Holmes Report, 4 July 2011, accessed 14 October 2014
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Eleventh Report 2009-2010 Advisory Committee on Business Appointments, accessed 27 November 2014
- ↑ Daniel Thomas Carter to leave troubled Alcatel-Lucent Financial Times, 29 March 2013, accessed 14 October 2014
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Twelfth Report 2010-2011 Advisory Committee on Business Appointments, accessed 3 December 2014
- ↑ Christopher Williams Gordon Brown aide Lord Carter becomes Informa chief executive The Telegraph, 10 July 2013, accessed 14 October 2014
