Open Road
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This article is part of the Lobbying Portal, a sunlight project from Spinwatch. |
Open Road was an independent consultancy founded in 2007, specialising in corporate communications, public affairs and corporate responsibility. Was bought and merged with Blue Rubicon in 2014 in a deal that saw Open Road's team combine with Blue Rubicon's. [1]
People
Its founders are:
- Nick Deluca, former MD of APCO UK who helped to develop APCO's European and transatlantic business;
- Graham McMillan, former Head of Public Affairs at Fishburn Hedges and winner of Consultant of the Year at the Public Affairs News awards of 2005;
- Victoria Tate, former Head of Public Affairs at the Spirit Group and former board director and Head of the Consumer Issues practice at Fishburn Hedges;
- Martin Le Jeune, former Head of Public Affairs at Sky, former director and Head of Corporate Responsibility at Fishburn Hedges and former Cabinet Office civil servant.[2]
Staff
- Jessica Frost Previously she was at Lexington Communications working with clients in the agribusiness, financial services, pharmaceutical and third sectors on public affairs, corporate communications and corporate responsibility.
- Matt Bright joined Open Road from the Greater London Authority. Prior to this, Bright wrote and edited material for the websites of the Guardian and the German newspaper Handelsblatt.
- James Worron -Previously worked as a Press Officer at HM Treasury, Oxford University and on public services reform at the CBI.
- Nicolas Lehmann Formerly with the in-house public affairs team at BSkyB.
- Joanna Atogdina Office Manager. Previously she worked at Designers Guild.
- Carys Afoko joined in December 2008 as a Researcher. Formerly with the Campaigns team of the international development NGO, Action for Southern Africa. She then had a stint at the NHS Confederation before moving on to handle media relations [3] and online communications for Labour candidate Chuka Umunna – he became an MP in 2010. [4]
- Rosie Clarke - senior consultant, previously worked for Lansons Communications for 4 years, and before that for Liberal Democrat MP Annette Brooke. [5]
- John Williams - consultant. Joined in June 2010 as head of research from the external relations team at the Office of Fair Trading, previously worked in Parliament for Simon Hughes MP and as a communications assistant for the Liberal Democrats.[6]
- Ross Matthewman – Joined Open Road in July 2011 as a researcher. Previously worked for Sarah Wollaston MP and interned at Conservative Campaign HQ over the 2010 General Election.
- Louise Phillips – Consultant, previously with TLG Communications and worked for the Liberal Democrats as a media assistant on the Brian Paddick Mayoral Campaign, and then as a Senior Press Officer for 3 years, covering portfolios including health, education, work & pensions, DCMS, DCLG, science, equalities and DFT. Ran the party's broadcast team during the 2010 general election.
- Alex Savage – Researcher, joined July 2011. Before this he worked at Lansons Communications for a year, where he worked on public affairs and public relations accounts in the financial services sector, including work with the Isle of Man Government.
Interned at Weber Shandwick and worked for Labour North West on the 2010 general election, where he assisted the regional head of press.[7]
Clients
Lobbying clients, according to the Association of Professional Political Consultants's register in 2008 include:[8]
HSBC | Sky | Morrisons | BAE Systems | BPI | Eurostar | Orange | Helveta | Chartered Insurance Institute | Finance and Leasing Association | The Bingo Association | Engineering and Technology Board | Nabarro | British Metals Recycling Association | Novus | Royal Mail | OSS
- Bookmaker William Hill hired Open Road in January 2009.[9]
- Royal Mail brought in Open Road in February 2009 reportedly to handle its corporate social responsibility (CSR). A Royal Mail spokesman said: 'Royal Mail has an ongoing commitment to reducing the impact of its operations on the environment and promoting ethical behaviour, improving quality of life for its people and ensuring it has a positive relationship with society. To further these aims, Royal Mail has implemented a comprehensive CSR strategy and is working with Open Road to communicate the different elements of the strategy.'[10] The appointment coincides with growing anger over the government's plans to part-privatise the Royal Mail[11]
- HSBC In June 2008 HSBC appointed public affairs and corporate comms agency Open Road to build support for its corporate responsibility initiatives in the UK[12]
2011
Lobbying clients, according to the Association of Professional Political Consultants's register in 2011 include:[13]
HSBC | Sky | Morrisons | BAE Systems | BPI | Eurostar | Orange | Helveta | Chartered Insurance Institute | Finance and Leasing Association | The Bingo Association | Engineering and Technology Board | Nabarro | British Metals Recycling Association | Novus | Royal Mail | OSS
• News Corporation • Everything Everywhere • AstraZeneca / Bristol-Myers Squibb Alliance in Diabetes • UK Food Chain Alliance • EMR • Novus • Bayer • Prudential • British Metals Recycling Association • Royal Bank of Scotland • Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) • Universal Music • Airwave • VEVO • AkzoNobel • Newspaper Licensing Agency • Janssen • Bristol-Myers Squibb Virology • William Hill • Research in Motion – Blackberry • Allergan
2012
- Institute for Family Business
- Bowel Cancer UK - pro bono
Contacts
- Golden Cross House
- 8 Duncannon Street
- London
- WC2N 4JF
- Tel+44 (0)20 7484 5014; Fax+44 (0)20 7484 5100
Notes
- ↑ [[1], accessed Sept 2014
- ↑ Open Road joins APPC, 13 February 2007 APPC welcomes a new member, accessed 9 December 2007.
- ↑ Open Road Our Team, accessed 4 February 2009
- ↑ Open Road Our Team, acc 6 October 2011
- ↑ Rosie Clarke, Open Road website, acc 6 October 2011
- ↑ Our Team, Open Road website, acc 6 October 2011
- ↑ Our Team, Open Road website, acc 6 October 2011
- ↑ APPC register, to August 2008
- ↑ Public Affairs: Bookie signs Open Road, Pr Week, 19 Jan 2009
- ↑ Pr Week, 15 Feb 2009
- ↑ Brown faces his biggest rebellion as Labour anger at postal sell-off grows, the Guardian, 25 Feb 2009
- ↑ PRWeek, 21 June 2007
- ↑ APPC register, 1 March - 31 May 2011
