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. ^[1]

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.^[1]

Bought by Teneo

In July 2015 it was 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'.^[2]

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^[3]

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.^[4]
Fraser Hardie, founder.^[5]
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.^[6]
Graham McMillan, CEO and founder of Open Road.^[7]
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.^[8]
Chris Jones, founding partner. Former journalist with the BBC, ITN and regional newspapers.^[9]
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.^[10]
Patrick Loughran, director of strategy. Former special adviser to Peter Mandelson, Number 10 Downing Street and the Cabinet Office.^[11]
Charles Stewart-Smith, director. Co-founder of consultancy Luther Pendragon and a founding director of Gplus in Brussels.^[12]
Matthew Burchell, director of research and insight. Former special adviser to Peter Hain MP.^[13]^[14]
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.^[15]
Mark Pack, associate director. Ran the Liberal Democrats online General Election campaign in 2001 and 2005.^[16]
Matthew Hickley, head of media. Former journalist, most notably with the Daily Mail where he was defence and home affairs correspondent.^[17]
Basil Towers, director and special adviser. Founder of Hesleden Partners, a reputation management business, which was acquired by Blue Rubicon in 2014.^[18]
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.^[19]

APPC Register

March 2015-May 2015

December 2015-February 2016

December 2014-February 2015

September 2014-November 2014

June 2014-August 2014

March 2014-May 2014

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.^[26]
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. ^[27]

Clients

Registrar of consultant lobbyists

Blue Rubicon has been registered since January 2016. The register documents clients for whom Blue Rubicon has lobbied ministers of government. The 2015 listings are as follows:

October - December 2015

July - September 2015

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

March 2015-May 2015

December 2014-February 2015

September 2014-November 2014

June 2014-August 2014

March 2014-May 2014

2010

Blue Rubicon has also previously handled Barclays' public affairs.^[29]

2008

Contact

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

References

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 Blue Rubicon snaps up public affairs specialist Open Road, PR Week, 10 February 2014, accessed September 2014
↑ David Singleton Blue Rubicon sells up to Teneo Public Affairs News, 9 July 2015, accessed 15 July 2015.
↑ Blue Rubicon, who we are, archived page from December 2014
↑ Blue Rubicon Alastair Gornall, accessed 16 February 2015
↑ Blue Rubicon Fraser Hardie, accessed 16 February 2015
↑ Blue Rubicon Gordon Tempest-Hay, accessed 16 February 2015
↑ Blue Rubicon Graham McMillan, accessed 16 February 2015
↑ Blue Rubicon Nick DeLuca, accessed 16 February 2015
↑ Blue Rubicon Chris Jones, accessed 16 February 2015
↑ Blue Rubicon Chris Norton, accessed 16 February 2015
↑ Blue Rubicon Patrick Loughran, accessed 16 February 2015
↑ Blue Rubicon Charles Stewart-Smith, accessed 16 February 2015
↑ Progress Magazine, accessed October 2008
↑ Blue Rubicon Matthew Burchell, accessed 16 February 2015
↑ Blue Rubicon Simon Taylor, accessed 16 February 2015
↑ Blue Rubicon Mark Pack, accessed 16 February 2015
↑ Blue Rubicon Matthew Hickley, accessed 16 February 2015
↑ Blue Rubicon Basil Towers, accessed 16 February 2015
↑ Blue Rubicon Sean Kemp, accessed 16 February 2015
↑ ^20.0 ^20.1 Blue Rubicon staff, Register Mar15-May15, APPC, accessed 13 April 2016
↑ ^21.0 ^21.1 Road/Blue Rubicon Blue Rubicon staff, Register Dec15-Feb16, APPC, accessed 12 April 2016
↑ ^22.0 ^22.1 Register 1st December 2014 - 28th February 2015 Open Road/Blue Rubicon APPC, accessed 31 March 2015
↑ ^23.0 ^23.1 Register 1st September 2014 - 30th November 2014 APPC, accessed 21 January 2015
↑ ^24.0 ^24.1 1st June 2014 - 31st August 2014 APPC, accessed 17 October 2014
↑ ^25.0 ^25.1 Register for 1st March 2014 - 31st May 2014, APPC, accessed September 2014
↑ Brown strategist to join Blue Rubicon PR Week, 09 Jan 2009
↑ Blue Rubicon's Spencer Livermore to return to Labour Party, PR Week, 8 October 2013, accessed September 2014
↑ Blue Rubicon profile 2015, Registrar of consultant lobbyists, accessed 5 February 2016
↑ APPC Register Entry for 1 September 2010 to 30 November 2010
↑ APPC register to November 2008

Back to Lobbying Portal

[Merge-1] 1.0 ^1.1 Blue Rubicon snaps up public affairs specialist Open Road, PR Week, 10 February 2014, accessed September 2014

[2] David Singleton Blue Rubicon sells up to Teneo Public Affairs News, 9 July 2015, accessed 15 July 2015.

[3] Blue Rubicon, who we are, archived page from December 2014

[4] Blue Rubicon Alastair Gornall, accessed 16 February 2015

[5] Blue Rubicon Fraser Hardie, accessed 16 February 2015

[6] Blue Rubicon Gordon Tempest-Hay, accessed 16 February 2015

[7] Blue Rubicon Graham McMillan, accessed 16 February 2015

[8] Blue Rubicon Nick DeLuca, accessed 16 February 2015

[9] Blue Rubicon Chris Jones, accessed 16 February 2015

[10] Blue Rubicon Chris Norton, accessed 16 February 2015

[11] Blue Rubicon Patrick Loughran, accessed 16 February 2015

[12] Blue Rubicon Charles Stewart-Smith, accessed 16 February 2015

[13] Progress Magazine, accessed October 2008

[14] Blue Rubicon Matthew Burchell, accessed 16 February 2015

[15] Blue Rubicon Simon Taylor, accessed 16 February 2015

[16] Blue Rubicon Mark Pack, accessed 16 February 2015

[17] Blue Rubicon Matthew Hickley, accessed 16 February 2015

[18] Blue Rubicon Basil Towers, accessed 16 February 2015

[19] Blue Rubicon Sean Kemp, accessed 16 February 2015

[Mar15-20] 20.0 ^20.1 Blue Rubicon staff, Register Mar15-May15, APPC, accessed 13 April 2016

[Dec15-21] 21.0 ^21.1 Road/Blue Rubicon Blue Rubicon staff, Register Dec15-Feb16, APPC, accessed 12 April 2016

[Dec14-22] 22.0 ^22.1 Register 1st December 2014 - 28th February 2015 Open Road/Blue Rubicon APPC, accessed 31 March 2015

[sept14-23] 23.0 ^23.1 Register 1st September 2014 - 30th November 2014 APPC, accessed 21 January 2015

[June-24] 24.0 ^24.1 1st June 2014 - 31st August 2014 APPC, accessed 17 October 2014

[MP-25] 25.0 ^25.1 Register for 1st March 2014 - 31st May 2014, APPC, accessed September 2014

[26] Brown strategist to join Blue Rubicon PR Week, 09 Jan 2009

[27] Blue Rubicon's Spencer Livermore to return to Labour Party, PR Week, 8 October 2013, accessed September 2014

[28] Blue Rubicon profile 2015, Registrar of consultant lobbyists, accessed 5 February 2016

[29] APPC Register Entry for 1 September 2010 to 30 November 2010

[30] APPC register to November 2008

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Blue Rubicon

Contents

Merge with Open Road

Bought by Teneo

Lobbying for the corporate education industry

People

APPC Register

March 2015-May 2015

December 2015-February 2016

December 2014-February 2015

September 2014-November 2014

June 2014-August 2014

March 2014-May 2014

Former Staff

Clients

Registrar of consultant lobbyists

October - December 2015

July - September 2015

April - June 2015

January - March 2015

APPC lobbying register

December 2015-February 2016

March 2015-May 2015

December 2014-February 2015

September 2014-November 2014

June 2014-August 2014

March 2014-May 2014

2010

2008

Contact

References

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