Quiller Consultants
|
This article is part of the Lobbying Portal, a sunlight project from Spinwatch. |
Quiller Consultants is a PR and lobbying firm. In 2006, it became part of the Huntsworth Group, which is owned by Tory peer and David Cameron’s constituency chairman Lord Chadlington.
Quiller was co-founded in 1998 by John Eisenhammer and Jonathan Hill. On 10 September 2014, Hill was chosen by David Cameron to be Britain’s next European Commissioner in charge of financial services regulation.
Contents
- 1 "Years of inside experience"
- 2 Working for the financial services industry
- 3 People
- 4 Lobbying Clients
- 4.1 Registrar of consultant lobbyists
- 4.2 APPC lobbying register
- 4.2.1 December 2015-February 2016
- 4.2.2 September 2015-November 2015
- 4.2.3 June 2015-August 2015
- 4.2.4 March 2015-May 2015
- 4.2.5 December 2014-February 2015
- 4.2.6 September 2014-November 2014
- 4.2.7 June 2014-August 2014
- 4.2.8 March 2014-May 2014
- 4.2.9 December 2013-February 2014
- 4.2.10 September 2013-November 2013
- 4.2.11 June 2013 -August 2013
- 4.2.12 March 2013-May 2013
- 4.2.13 December 2012-February 2013
- 4.2.14 2011
- 4.2.15 2011 APPC Register
- 4.2.16 2010
- 5 Lobbying firms
- 6 Contacts
- 7 References
"Years of inside experience"
According to Quiller's website:
"The Quiller team is drawn from across the political spectrum and has many years of inside experience of Whitehall and Westminster at the most senior level, including Downing Street and the Treasury. This gives us a very broad range of contacts with politicians, civil servants and regulators. We also know how the system really works and how our clients can make their case most effectively. Sometimes this is best done behind the scenes. At other times, the situation will call for a high-profile campaign, where we help clients influence opinion through the media as well as in Parliament."[1]
Quiller offers reputation management, financial and corporate communications, public affairs advice, campaigning expertise, litigation communications and crisis and issues management.
Working for the financial services industry
Quiller has long-standing ties to the financial services industry in the UK.
Promoting voluntary code of conduct for the banks
In May 2014, Quiller was cited as the press contact for a new initiative, the Banking Standards Review Council, a 'new organisation charged with raising standards in the banking industry'. It will set standards for “culture, competence and customer outcomes” and publish an annual report detailing where banks have failed. The UK’s seven largest lenders have agreed to sign up to the new body. However, critics have pointed out that the body does not have disciplinary powers and relies on banks following the code on a voluntary basis.[2]
Protecting the reputation of the City
Quiller was appointed lobbyists to the City of London Corporation, the local authority and lobbyists for the City, after the 2010 May general election until December 2010 to to provide initial advice on the implications of the policies and actions of the coalition government’. It won a further contract in January 2011 and is still retained in September 2014.
In the autumn of 2011, Quiller was asked by the City of London Corporation to help it contain the fallout from the Occupy protest. The ‘high-profile, intensive crisis/ reputation management’ brief Quiller was handed was to minimise the damage to the Corporation’s reputation.
As Cave and Rowell describe in A Quiet Word (Bodley Head, 2014):[3]
- 'The Corporation was in the frame as it was behind the legal action to remove the Occupy camp from St Paul’s. But, more significantly, Occupy London was calling for democratic changes to the Corporation. On 7 November 2011, protesters issued a statement asking for the Corporation to be subject to the Freedom of Information Act, to publish its accounts and for the end of City businesses voting in elections... The camp was attracting a lot of media attention and the same week it issued the statement, the movement was gaining real momentum too. On 9 November, thousands of protesting students marched past St Paul’s steps in solidarity.
- This was the point at which the Corporation picked up the phone to Quiller. Forty-eight hours later, three of its spinners arrived at the West Wing of the Corporation’s HQ Guildhall. They were George Bridges, a friend to the Chancellor, George Osborne, who helped run the Tories’ 2010 general election campaign; Alasdair Murray, a former Times and Mail on Sunday journalist; and another ex-hack, John Eisenhammer, Quiller’s co-founder and its man for ‘handling of difficult and sensitive issues’.
- Every day for the next week Quiller was invited to meetings at the Corporation. We have no information on what they actually did. They might have been sitting on their hands for all we know. Quiller did, however, produce a document, ‘City of London Corporation: The “Occupy” Protests’, which summarises the fallout, or lack of, for the Corporation.
- According to analysis of coverage of the Occupy protest commissioned by Quiller, only 10 per cent of stories were unfavourable to the City of London Corporation, despite it being a central focus of the protest. This dropped to 6 per cent without the Guardian, which was the major exception to the overall tone of the coverage. The stories that did negatively focus on the Corporation, it noted, did not get followed up by others. They also reflected the ‘well-established views’ of the Corporation’s critics. What is implied is that as long as it stayed that way, and the views of critics did not bleed into the pages of, for example, the Telegraph, the situation was contained. Quiller advised that a sense of perspective about the coverage was needed. There had been no harm done to the Corporation’s reputation. What role was played by Quiller in achieving this is not known.'
Financial sector clients
Quiller has provided PR and lobbying services to many in financial services, including: In 2014:
- The City of London Corporation: the City's powerful lobby group
- Circle Holdings Plc: the private healthcare investor;
- HSBC Bank: a lobbying account that it has held since 2009 and is believed to be worth well over £100,000 per year[4]
- The Co-operative Group: Quiller were hired in 2013, with the contract thought to be worth 'hundreds of thousands of pounds '[5]
- SWIFT, or the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication
Recent financial sector clients:
- PWC
- Financial Reporting Council: the UK’s independent regulator
- Tullett Prebon; an inter-dealer money broker
- Hedge Fund Standards Board
- Brewin Dolphin'; investment management and financial planning firm
- British Private Equity and Venture Capital Association
- Bridges Ventures; private equity firm
- Marwyn: alternative asset manager
People
- Howell James, Left his role as head of corporate communications at Christie’s to replace Sean Worth as chief executive of Quiller.[6]
- Alasdair Murray, Senior adviser at Quiller. A former think tanker, having worked for Centre for European Reform and CentreForum; for which he still writes.
- Martin Koldyke; former special adviser to Nick Clegg in Downing Street
- Lauren McEvatt, senior consultant. Former researcher to David Jones MP (2009-2011) and then special adviser when Mr Jones was Secretary of State for Wales (2012-2014) and parliamentary assistant to Gerald Howarth MP[7] [8]
- Abbas Poptani
- Malcolm Morton - ex-parliamentary aide to David Rutley MP, assisting on the Treasury Select Committee, and latterly in his capacity as Parliamentary Private Secretary to Damian Green MP, the Minister of State for Immigration in the Home Office. Before the 2010 General Election, Malcolm served as policy researcher to Mark Harper MP in his role as Shadow Work and Pensions Minister. In 2012-13 Harper was in charge of regulating lobbyists with the introduction of a statutory register of lobbyists.[9]
- Geraint Jones. Has worked at both the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Ministry of Defence, has worked at the National Assembly for Wales and campaigned on behalf of the Labour Party.
- William James, consultant. Former social media coordinator for the Liberal National Party during the 2013 Australia Federal Election campaign and defence conference producer at Defence IQ[10]
- Paula Fitzpatrick, office manager
- Tanya Corker, office administrator
- Michael Smyth - Senior adviser at Quiller. A former partner at legal firm Clifford Chance and the firm’s Global Head of Public Policy and Government Relations for a decade. His extensive legal experience has included running public inquiries in the UK (including the Hutton Inquiry (2004) and Deepcut Review (2006) and abroad (including in Gibraltar and the Cayman Islands)
- John Eisenhammer - Co-founder and chairman of Quiller.
APPC lobbying register
December 2015-February 2016
Mitch Cohen | Howell James | Sarah Jones | Ruwan Kodikara | Lauren McEvatt | Dominic Morris | Alasdair Murray | Russell Newton | Oisin O'Malley Daly [11]
September 2015-November 2015
Mitch Cohen | Will James | Howell James | Lauren McEvatt | Dominic Morris | Malcolm Morton | Alasdair Murray | Russell Newton | Oisin O'Malley | Daly Abbas Poptani | Sean Worth[12]
June 2015-August 2015
Mitch Cohen | Will James | Howell James | Geraint Jones | Lauren McEvatt | Malcolm Morton | Alasdair Murray | Abbas Poptani | Sean Worth [13]
March 2015-May 2015
Mitch Cohen | Will James | Howell James | Geraint Jones | Lauren McEvatt | Malcolm Morton | Alasdair Murray | Abbas Poptani | Sean Worth [14]
December 2014-February 2015
Will James | Howell James | Geraint Jones | Ruwan Kodikara | Lauren McEvatt | Malcolm Morton | Alasdair Murray | Abbas Poptani | Sean Worth [15]
September 2014-November 2014
Will James | Howell James | Geraint Jones | Ruwan Kodikara | Lauren McEvatt | Malcolm Morton | Alasdair Murray | Abbas Poptani | John Slinger | Larry Smith | Sean Worth[16]
June 2014-August 2014
Ruwan Kodikara | Malcolm Morton | Alasdair Murray | Abbas Poptani | Gerard Russell | Sehr Sarwar | John Slinger | Larry Smith | Peter Wilson-Smith | Sean Worth[17]
March 2014-May 2014
John Eisenhammer | Ruwan Kodikara | Malcolm Morton | Alasdair Murray | Abbas Poptani | Gerard Russell | Sehr Sarwar | John Slinger | Larry Smith | Peter Wilson-Smith | Sean Worth[18]
December 2013-February 2014
John Eisenhammer | Ruwan Kodikara | Malcolm Morton | Alasdair Murray | Abbas Poptani | Gerard Russell | Sehr Sarwar | John Slinger | Larry Smith | Peter Wilson-Smith | Sean Worth [19]
September 2013-November 2013
George Bridges | John Eisenhammer | Malcolm Morton | Alasdair Murray | Abbas Poptani | Gerard Russell | John Slinger | Larry Smith | Peter Wilson-Smith | Sean Worth[20]
June 2013-August 2013
George Bridges | John Eisenhammer | Malcolm Morton | Alasdair Murray | Abbas Poptani | Gerard Russell | John Slinger | Larry Smith | Peter Wilson-Smith[21]
March 2013-May 2013
George Bridges | John Eisenhammer | Malcolm Morton | Alasdair Murray | Abbas Poptani | Gerard Russell | John Slinger | Larry Smith | Peter Wilson-Smith[22]
December 2012-February 2013
George Bridges | John Eisenhammer | Malcolm Morton | Alasdair Murray | Stephen Parkinson | Abbas Poptani | Gerard Russell John Slinger | Larry Smith | Peter Wilson-Smith[23]
Former management and staff
- George Bridges, left Quiller to become to become senior adviser to the chief of the UK operation of Spanish banking giant Santander in January 2014. [24] In 2006 Bridges was Campaign Director for the Conservative Party, and was responsible for the Party’s media, political and campaign teams. Before that, he was Chairman of the Conservative Research Department, helping to shape and implement the Party’s political strategy[25]
- Peter Barnes: "helps clients to engage effectively with the UK Government, Parliament and competition authorities. He has a particular specialization in healthcare, financial services, energy and gambling policy." He spent almost a decade at senior levels in two government departments: at HM Treasury he was private secretary (chief of staff) to the Minister responsible for Government policy on tax and financial services. Then as Special Adviser to the Secretary of State for Social Security, he helped to legislate major reforms of welfare and pensions.[26]
- Sean Worth: Brought in as Bridges' replacement however a year into the role he resigned in July 2014 to set up his own organisation, The Westminster Policy Institute. As of November 2014 he was still named in Quiller's APPC register.[27][16]
- Peter Wilson-Smith: Announced he was leaving Quiller in July, a week after Worth, but has declared he will not be joining Worth's The Westminster Policy Institute. [28] Is now Director at Meritus Consultants.
- Stephen Parkinson - Former executive at Quiller. Is now a special adviser to the Home Secretary, Theresa May MP.[29] Previous to joining Quiller he was a Conservative Party aide who was part of the small team that used to prepare David Cameron for Prime Minister’s Questions when he was leader of the Opposition. Before that was Director of Research at the Centre for Policy Studies, the free market think-thank. Was also a Conservative candidate for Newcastle upon Tyne North at the 2010 general election, and subsequently National Organiser of the cross-party NO to AV campaign for the referendum in May 2011.[30]
- Ruwan Kodikara, former special adviser at Quiller between January 2014 and January 2015. Was hired as head of media and brand for the Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg in the build up to the 2015 General Election.[31]
Lobbying Clients
Quiller lists its clients as including multinational companies, financial institutions, public sector bodies, foreign governments, membership and campaigning organisations, professional services firms, schools and universities, charities, family offices, and individuals.[32]
Registrar of consultant lobbyists
The register of consultant lobbyists documents those clients on behalf of whom Quiller has met with government ministers. Their listing from 2015 is as follows:
October - December 2015
APPC lobbying register
December 2015-February 2016
Aecom Infrastructure and Environment UK | Gatwick Airport | Kingfisher plc | Learning Enterprises Ltd | SKB Global Consulting (Ahmadiyya Muslim Community) | British Land Company PLC | Co-operative Group | Tratos Limited [11]
September 2015-November 2015
Aecom Infrastructure and Environment UK | C2FO | GMTL | Kingfisher | Learning Enterprises | Shoaib Bajwa | The British Land Company | The Co-operative Group[34]
June 2015-August 2015
Aecom Infrastructure and Environment UK | Circle Holdings Plc | Kingfisher plc | Shoaib Bajwa (Ahmadiyya Muslim Community) Telefonica O2 UK Limited | The British Land Company PLC | The City of London Corporation | The Co-operative Group [35]
March 2015-May 2015
Aecom Infrastructure and Environment UK | Circle Holdings Plc | Kingfisher plc | Telefonica O2 UK Limited | The British Land Company PLC | The City of London Corporation | The Co-operative Group [36]
December 2014-February 2015
Circle Holdings Plc | Kingfisher plc | Nuclear Management Partners | Telefonica 02 UK Limited | The British Land Company PLC | The City of London Corporation | The Co-Operative Group | URS Infrastructure and Environment UK [37]
September 2014-November 2014
Circle Holdings Plc | HSBC Bank plc | Kingfisher plc | Korean Nuclear Association for International Cooperation | SWIFT | Telefonica O2 UK Limited | The British Land Company PLC | The City of London Corporation | The Co-operative Group | United Kingdom-United Arab Emirates All-Party Parliamentary Group | URS Infrastructure & Environment UK[16]
June 2014-August 2014
Circle Holdings Plc | Grosvenor | HSBC Bank plc | Kingfisher plc | Korean Electric Power Company | Korean Nuclear Association for International Cooperation | Ministry of Foreign Affairs, UAE | SWIFT | Syrian Opposition Coalition | Telefonica O2 UK Limited | The British Land Company PLC | The City of London Corporation | The Co-operative Group | United Kingdom-United Arab Emirates All-Party Parliamentary Group | URS Infrastructure & Environment UK[17]
March 2014-May 2014
Circle Holdings Plc | Grosvenor | HSBC Bank plc | Kingfisher plc | Ministry of Foreign Affairs, UAE | SWIFT | Syrian Opposition Coalition | Telefonica O2 UK Limited | The British Land Company PLC | The Business Services Association | The City of London Corporation | The Co-operative Group | United Kingdom-United Arab Emirates All-Party Parliamentary Group - Ministry of Foreign Affairs, UAE | URS Infrastructure & Environment UK[18]
December 2013-February 2014
Circle Holdings Plc | Grosvenor | HSBC Bank plc | Kingfisher plc | Ministry of Foreign Affairs, UAE | PwC | SWIFT | Syrian Opposition Coalition | Telefonica O2 UK Limited | The Actuarial Profession | The British Land Company PLC | The Business Services Association | The City of London Corporation | The Co-operative Group | United Kingdom-United Arab Emirates All-Party Parliamentary Group - Ministry of Foreign Affairs, UAE | URS Infrastructure & Environment UK [19]
September 2013-November 2013
A4e Ltd | Capita plc | Circle Holdings Plc | Grosvenor | HSBC Bank plc | Kingfisher plc | Ministry of Foreign Affairs, UAE | PwC | Reaction Engines Limited | SWIFT | Telefonica O2 UK Limited | The Actuarial Profession | The British Land Company PLC | The Business Services Association | The City of London Corporation | The Co-operative Group | United Kingdom-United Arab Emirates All-Party Parliamentary Group - Ministry of Foreign Affairs, UAE | URS Infrastructure & Environment UK[20]
June 2013 -August 2013
A4e Ltd | Circle Holdings Plc | Financial Reporting Council | Grosvenor | HSBC Bank plc | Kingfisher plc | Ministry of Foreign Affairs, UAE | PwC | Reaction Engines Limited | SWIFT | Telefonica O2 UK Limited | The Actuarial Profession | The British Land Company PLC | The Business Services Association | The City of London Corporation | The Co-operative Group | Tullett Prebon Group Ltd | United Kingdom-United Arab Emirates All-Party Parliamentary Group - Ministry of Foreign Affairs, UAE | URS Infrastructure & Environment UK[21]
March 2013-May 2013
A4e Ltd | Financial Reporting Council | Grosvenor | HSBC Bank plc | Kingfisher plc | Migrationwatch UK | Ministry of Foreign Affairs, UAE | Mitie Group Plc | PwC | Reaction Engines Limited | SWIFT | Telefonica O2 UK Limited | Tesco Plc | The Actuarial Profession | The British Land Company PLC | The Business Services Association | The City of London Corporation | Tullett Prebon Group Ltd | United Kingdom-United Arab Emirates All-Party Parliamentary Group - Ministry of Foreign Affairs, UAE[22]
December 2012-February 2013
A4e Ltd | All-Party Parliamentary Game and Wildlife | Conservation Group | Financial Reporting Council | Grosvenor | HSBC Bank plc | Kingfisher plc | Migrationwatch UK | Ministry of Foreign Affairs, UAE | Mitie Group Plc | PwC | Reaction Engines Limited | SWIFT | Telefonica O2 UK Limited | Tesco Plc | The Actuarial Profession | The British Land Company PLC | The Business Services Association | The City of London Corporation | The Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust | Tullett Prebon Group Ltd | United Kingdom-United Arab Emirates All-Party Parliamentary Group[23]
2011
Lobbying clients according to the Association of Professional Political Consultants's register as of December 2011:[38]Brewin Dolphin | Experian | Financial Reporting Council | HSBC | Iggesund Paperboard | LGC | Maximus UK | Migrationwatch UK | Ministry of Foreign Affairs, UAE | Mitie Group | Pinnacle Regeneration Group | PwC | Reaction Engines | Telefónica O2 UK | Tesco | The Actuarial Profession | British Land | Business Services Association | Capita | City of London Corporation | Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust | Transport Sense | Tullett Prebon
Lobbying clients in the quarter to May 2011.[39]
Brewin Dolphin Limited, Experian Limited, Financial Reporting Council, HG Capital, HSBC Bank Plc, JustGiving, LGC,Migrationwatch UK, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, UAE, Mitie Group Plc, PwC, Reaction Engines Limited, Telefónica O2 UK,The Actuarial Profession, The British Land Company PLC, Business Services Association, Capita Group Plc, City of London Corporation, Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust,Transport Sense, Tullett Prebon Plc
United Kingdom-United Arab Emirates All-Party Parliamentary Group - 'Quiller Consultants provide secretariat services to the group on behalf of the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates. [40]
2011 APPC Register
George Bridges, Nick Dunne, John Eisenhammer, Malcolm Morton, Alasdair Murray, Bee Roycroft, John Slinger, Larry Smith, Peter Wilson-Smith[39]
2010
Quiller joined the APPC in May 2010, listing its clients (June-August 2010) as:[41] Bank of America, Brewin Dolphin Limited, Citadel Investment Group, Experian Limited, HG Capital, HSBC Bank Plc, Reaction Engines Limited, Telefónica O2 UK Limited, Tesco Plc, Business Service Association, Capita Group Plc, City of London Corporation, Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust, Sir Keith Park Memorial Campaign, Tullett Prebon Plc, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, UAE
Prior to May 2010, Quiller failed to reveal its client list. However, other reports suggest that it advised these organisations:
Lobbying firms
Former lobbying firms
Contacts
Quiller Consultants 5th Floor, 22 Arlington Street, London SW1A 1RD
Tel: +44 (0)20 7233 9444 Fax: +44 (0)20 7233 657
References
- ↑ Quiller Consultants website, accessed Nov 2008
- ↑ [http://www.bankingstandardsreview.org.uk/assets/docs/maypr.pdf Leading banks back Lambert proposals for new standards body, Banking Standards Review Council press release, 19 May 2014
- ↑ 'A Quiet Word: Lobbying, Crony Capitalism and Broken Politics in Britain', Tamasin Cave and Andy Rowell, Bodley Head, March 2014
- ↑ 'HSBC reviews UK public affairs', Public Affairs News, June 2014
- ↑ Co-operative Group slashes funding for charities, The Guardian, 7 December 2013
- ↑ Howell James to head Quiller Accessed 9/9/14
- ↑ Lauren McEvatt Linkedin, accessed 26 January 2015
- ↑ David Cornock http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-19544806 BBC News, 10 September 2012, accessed 26 January 2015
- ↑ Our People, Quiller Consultants, accessed 27 October 2014
- ↑ William James Linkedin, accessed 26 January 2015
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Quiller Consultants staff list, Dec15-Feb16, APPC, accessed 26 April 2016
- ↑ Quiller Consultants staff list Sep-Nov15, APPC.org, accessed 22 February 2016
- ↑ Register of August 2015APPC.org, accessed 19 October 2015
- ↑ Register of May 2015APPC.org, accessed 19 October 2015
- ↑ Register of 31 February 2015APPC.org, accessed 19 October 2015
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 Register 1st September 2014 - 30th November 2014 APPC, accessed 21 January 2015
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 Register 1st June 2014 - 31st August 2014 APPC, accessed 17 October 2014
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 Register for 1st March 2014 - 31st May 2014 APPC, accessed September 2014
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 Register for 1st December 2013 - 28th February 2014 APPC, accessed 7 October 2014
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 Register for 1st September 2013 - 30th November 2013 APPC, accessed 7 October 2014
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 Register for 1st June 2013 - 31st August 2013 APPC, accessed 7 October 2014
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 Register for 1st March 2013 - 31st May 2013 APPC, accessed 7 October 2014
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 Register for 1st December 2012 - 28th February 2013 APPC, accessed 7 October 2014
- ↑ John Owens, Quiller's George Bridges quits to advise Santander CEO Ana Botín, PRWeek,8 November 08, 2013, acc 9 September 2014
- ↑ Quiller Consultants website, accessed 27 October 2014
- ↑ Quiller Consultants website, Quiller website, accessed 27 October 2014
- ↑ Sean Worth leaves Quiller Accessed 9/9/14
- ↑ Peter Wilson-Smith to leave Quiller Accessed 9/9/14
- ↑ Mark Wallace The longlist to succees Hague in Richmond Conservative Home 1 October 2014, accessed 7 October 2014
- ↑ Stephen Parkinson, Quiller Consultants' website, accessed 27 October 2014
- ↑ David Singleton Clegg brings in another lobbyist Public Affairs News, 8 January 2015, accessed 9 January 2015
- ↑ Quiller consultants Our clients, accessed 29 January 2009
- ↑ Quiller Consultants profile 2015, Registrar of consultant lobbyists, accessed 8 February 2016
- ↑ Quiller Consultants client list Sep-Nov15, APPC.org, accessed 22 February 2016
- ↑ Register for 31 August 2015APPC.org, accessed 19 October 2015
- ↑ Register for May 2015APPC.org, accessed 19 October 2015
- ↑ Register for 27 February 2015APPC.org, accessed 19 October 2015
- ↑ APPC Register, accessed December 2011
- ↑ 39.0 39.1 [1 March - 31 May 2011]
- ↑ Register of ALL-PARTY GROUPS October 2010, and 28 October 2011
- ↑ APPC register, 1 June- 31 August 2010
- ↑ Private-equity body BVCA appoints comms director, Public Affairs News, May 2008
- ↑ http://www.bridgesventures.com/news.php?newsID=39
