Hume Brophy
Hume Brophy is a PR and lobbying firm with offices in London, Dublin and Brussels.
Contents
Lobbying for big tobacco
British American Tobacco is one of the firm's major clients, along with shopkeepers' trade body The National Federation of Retail Newsagents, which has fought a high-profile campaign in the fight against a tobacco display ban in UK shops.
In February 2011 the Guardian revealed that Hume Brophy had emailed UK MPs claiming a tobacco display ban would have a "devastating effect on the small business sector in your constituency". [1]
- More than 80 MPs backed the federation's campaign – and smaller shops were exempted from the ban on behind-the-counter displays for 18 months, which was a significant victory.
- BAT confirmed that Hume Brophy had attended meetings between BAT and the federation in which the campaign was discussed. However, BAT denied it used "underhand tactics" or that the federation was a front for the company.[2]
However a former federation president, Colin Finch told the Guardian: "The federation is a puppet of the tobacco industry." He accused tobacco companies of using "retailers to legitimise their campaign" and said tobacco money flowed into the federation "discreetly" via sponsorship of trade events, annual conferences, seminars, meetings and dinners.[1]
People
- John Hume, Founding Partner
- Eoin Brophy, Founding Partner
- Conor Foley, Partner EU
- Karl Brophy, Partner [3]
- Steve McCool - Partner and Head of UK business.
Clients
Hume Brophy does not publish a client list but says it works for:[5] Investment banks, Stockbroking firms, Investment management houses, Hedge fund management companies, Funds of hedge funds, Fund administration, Law firms, Accountancy/Audit firms, Insurance brokerages, Mortgage providers, Airports, Industry Associations, Technology groups, Defense and security agencies.
- British American Tobacco[1]
- National Federation of Retail Newsagents[1]
- European Fund and Asset Management Association (EFAMA)[6]
- Grant Thornton[6]
- Otkritie[6]
- Clear Path Analysis[6]
- Dillon Eustace[6]
- First State Investments [7]
- Scipion[8]
- Quanthouse
- Equilend - [9]
- Bondlend
- Insparo Asset Management
- Veritas Asset Management - "Hume Brophy have taken the time to understand our business, culture and the individual personalities involved in our firm. This depth of understanding has allowed them to efficiently manage our interaction with the press and maximize coverage via a professionally executed campaign. The team at Hume Brophy stand out from their competitors. The senior individuals are involved in the relationship on a day-to-day basis and they have become an integral part of our team.” Richard Meyrick, Director, Head of Sales and Marketing
Public Affairs clients
- Nikko Asset Management - “Hume Brophy presented us with a thorough and proactive plan to position the company as the world’s leading Japanese & Asian fund management company and they have been highly successful in raising our profile with journalists from across the investment spectrum.” Charles Beazley, Nikko AM President (Europe) [10] Also 'Interest Group & Association Management'.
- Qinetiq - Counsel in regulatory affairs to QinetiQ Airport Technologies. “Given their substantial expertise with the aviation sector, Hume Brophy was the perfect partner for QAT. Hume Brophy designed a comprehensive contact programme with senior airport executives across four continents that provided QAT with a platform to market its automatic FOD detection system. Their assistance in lobbying for regulatory changes at both national and EU level has been first-class.” Phil McLachlan, Managing Director [11]
- European Travel Retail Council (ETRC). EU Advocacy and Issues Management: “Hume Brophy is a firm that delivers. Their highly-experienced team, understands the intricacies of the decision-making process and knows exactly where you need to be to influence decisions in your favour. In recent years, Hume Brophy’s professional advice and essential guidance has ensured that the European duty-free retail industry has successfully defended its interests against a range of regulatory threats at EU and member-state level.” Keith Spinks, Secretary General, ETRC [12]
Contact
Hume Brophy London Office 31 Davies Street Mayfair London W1K 4LW
Hume Brophy Dublin Office 12 Herbert St Dublin 2 Ireland
Hume Brophy Brussels Office 30 Rue de Spa 1000 Brussels Belgium
Website:http://www.humebrophy.com
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Jamie Doward and Alex Ascherson Tobacco firms accused of funding campaign to keep cigarettes on display, guardian.co.uk, Saturday 26 February 2011, accessed 9 June 2011
- ↑ Jaime Doward,British American Tobacco admits funding campaign against display ban, guardian.co.uk, Saturday 28 May 2011, accessed 9 June 2011
- ↑ Hume Brophy Partners, accessed 13 January 2009
- ↑ Hedge funds 'must improve look', PR week October 2008
- ↑ Hume Brophy website accessed Jan 08
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 Hume Brophy, Our Clients in the news, company website, accessed 9 June 2011
- ↑ First State Investments (client) celebrates 10 years in the UK and Europe. For more information contact belinda.marks@humebrophy.com, Twitter, accessed 11 October 2011
- ↑ Chris Jenkins hired as Scipion (client) steps up global investment drive for faultless CTF fund. Email james.harvey@humebrophy.com, Twitter, accessed 11 October 2011
- ↑ Twitter EquiLend (client) sees 16% growth in securities transactions as it hits 10-year milestone http://bit.ly/pSf0r7 Email equilend@humebrophy.comaccessed 11 October 2011
- ↑ Direct Advocacy and Lobbying Support, acc 11 October 2011
- ↑ Regulatory Affairs Counsel, acc 11 October 2011
- ↑ EU Advocacy and Issues Management, acc 11 October 2011
