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[[Brian Basham]] is a veteran financial PR man and chairman of the corporate services and research house [[Equity Development]], which he founded in 1997. <ref name="Key">[http://www.equitydevelopment.co.uk/index.php?p=management_team Key People], acc 25 January 2012 </ref>

==Career==
Biographical note from 2006:

:Brian Basham began his commercial life as a financial journalist, he then founded the corporate communications business, the [[Broad Street Group]], which he floated. He also founded [[Primrose Care]], which he sold to [[BUPA]]. He is Chairman of the corporate services and research house [[Equity Development]].

==Broad Street Associates==
Basham moved into PR with [[John Addey Associates]] in 1972. Four years later he founded the PR firm Broad Street Group. According to ''PR Week'':

:His first employee was [[John Coyle]]; together they built Broad Street into a pounds 15 million public company with a reputation for high-profile and aggressive PR, together with an equally high-octane lifestyle.

:Basham’s trade mark was detailed investigations of his opponents’ strengths and weaknesses - ’getting back to the brick-work’ he calls it. Coyle praises him as: ’a great lateral thinker and a brilliant advocate’. But outside the business community, the style - Saville Row suits, two car phones and a permanent table at the Savoy - sometimes grated with the press.

:And the (self-perpetuated) myth of the tough, aggressive PR man made him an obvious fall-guy for BA. <ref> Steve Bevan, [http://www.prweek.com/uk/news/94469/ Profile: Brian Basham, Warwick Corporate: PR man who’s up for a fight - Brian Basham faces 1997 with expansion, instead of libel suits, on his mind], ''PR Week'', 10 January 1997, acc 27 January 2012 </ref>

==BA 'dirty tricks' and libel action ==
In 1991 Basham set up a new PR company [[Warwick Corporate]]. One of his clients was [[British Airways]] (BA), which was accused by [[Richard Branson]] of fighting a 'dirty tricks’ smear campaign against his company [[Virgin Atlantic]].<ref> Matthew Horsman, [http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/the-kind-of-miracle-that-even-brian-couldnt-fix-1576497.html?printService=print The kind of miracle that even Brian couldn't fix], The Independent, 8 October 1995 </ref> Among his accusations Branson:

:claimed that BA's PR consultant, Brian Basham, had been undermining him and his company's reputation in the City and the press. Mr Branson confronted BA's non-executive directors about these "sharp business practises" in an open letter. They dismissed the allegations and said he was simply seeking publicity. <ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/january/11/newsid_2520000/2520189.stm 1993: BA dirty tricks against Virgin cost £3m], BBC Online, On this day, 11 January. </ref>

Writs soon followed in this highly-publicised David vs Goliath affair. Branson sued BA for libel; BA countersued, claiming Branson was damaging BA’s reputation. In January 1993 the two sides settled before the start of a High Court action, with BA paying Branson the sum of £610,000 plus costs, along with an apology.<ref> Roland Gribben, [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/2941747/Is-another-vicious-dog-fight-in-the-air.html Is another vicious dog-fight in the air?], ''Telegraph'', 24 Jun 2006 </ref>

Basham was reportedly 'thrown to the wolves' by BA, for whom he had acted as a consultant since the mid-1980s.<ref name="Streeter"> Michael Streeter, [http://www.independent.co.uk/news/pounds-20000-dirty-tricks-libel-victory-for-the-man-they-call-the-streetfighter-1315157.html pounds 20,000 `Dirty Tricks' libel victory for the man they call The Streetfighter]The Independent,19 December 1996, acc Jan 2012</ref>

In 1994 Basham launched a libel action over his portrayal in the book ‘Dirty Tricks’ by author [[Martyn Gregory]] and the publishers Little, Brown and Company, which he said depicted him as a "professional liar". Basham won the case in the High Court in 1996, along with £20,000 in damages plus costs. <ref name="Streeter"/>

==Business interests==

*[[White Star Property Holdings Plc]]- Basham was a non-executive director and Chairman from 11 September 2006 until September 2008<ref>[http://www.finanznachrichten.de/nachrichten-2006-09/artikel-6961030.asp WHITE STAR PROPERTY HOLDINGS PLC: Directorate Change] 08.09.2006 12:55 </ref> when he left to 'pursue other business interests'<ref> [White Star Property says chairman Brian Basham resigns], Thomson Financial, 23 Sept 2008 </ref>

==Affiliations==
*[[John Coyle]] - worked together at Broad Street PR from 1976 until 1988
*[[Alan Parker]] - founder of [[Brunswick]] PR, started his PR career working at Broad Street Associates for six years <Ref> Robert Gray, [http://www.prweek.com/uk/features/804439/ TOP 150 PR CONSULTANCIES: Brunswick -- Bashful But Still Bullish], 24 April 2008, accessed 31 Jan 2012</ref>
*[[Neil Hamilton]] the disgraced former Tory MP
*[[Mohamed Al Fayed]] - a former client

==Publications==
In 1997 Basham instigated and guided the 1998 Treasury Report into the Smaller Quoted Company Market and co-wrote 'Tomorrow's Giants' with the former senior Treasury official [[Craig Pickering]].<ref name="Key"/>

==External Resources==
*Brian Basham, [http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/comment/brian-basham-beware-corporate-psychopaths--they-are-still-occupying-positions-of-power-6282502.html Brian Basham: Beware corporate psychopaths – they are still occupying positions of power], 29 December 2011, acc Jan 2012

*Mezzanine Group http://www.investegate.co.uk/articlePrint.aspx?id=200203111407457447S

==Notes==
<references/>
[[Category:PR people|Basham, Brian]][[Category:Public relations|Basham, Brian]]

Talk:Brian Basham - Revision history

David: Created page with "Brian Basham is a veteran financial PR man and chairman of the corporate services and research house Equity Development, which he founded in 1997. [htt..."