Hume Brophy
Hume Brophy is a PR and lobbying firm with offices in London, Dublin, Brussels and Singapore.
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Lobbying for big tobacco
British American Tobacco was previously 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
Partners
- John Hume, Founding Partner
- Eoin Brophy, Founding Partner
- Conor Foley, Partner EU
- Maria Cryan, Partner (Jan 2010- ), head of business in Dublin
- Steve McCool, Partner and Head of UK business
- Michael Brophy, previouly was a Chief Executive within the international media group, Independent News and Media plc, leading the company’s publishing, digital and printing operations across Northern Ireland.
- Una McGirr
- Paul Jordan, associate partner and deputy MD of HB's Brussels practice, appointed April 2013, was previously at the MCI Group, where he was a client director working primarily across the healthcare sector, managing "a number of high-profile trade and professional associations in healthcare and other industries". Jordan previously spent several years in the European Commission and with Deloitte’s Brussels operation. [3]
- Conall McDevitt, appointed associate partner in October 2013 after resigning as member of the Northern Ireland legislative assembly (SDLP) because he had failed to declare payments received from his former employer Weber Shandwick in 2010
Previous partners
- Karl Brophy, Partner [4]
June 2014-August 2014
Chloe Choquin | Robert Condon | Caroline Escott | Andrew Gates | James Gittings | John Hume | Graham Kendall | Anna McCaul | Conall McDevitt | Camille Oster | Stephanie Reeves | Joshua Rendall[5]
Senior team as of April 2013
Umar Ahmed | Edel Bach |Kees Jan Boonen |Robert Condon| Neil Davidson | Patrick Donaohoe | David Henry Doyle | Carl Gibney Philippe Hamon James Harvey | Adam Honeysett-Watts | Lorna Jennings | Paul Jordan | Anna-Maria Karjalainen |Julie Lassaigne | Gerry Lumsden | Mark Lynch | Belinda Marks | Eva McKeown-Menseau | Jo Ann McNulty | Chris Mehigan | Herman Neukermans | Gary Palmer | Simon Pettinger | Simren Priestley | Kelly Rawlinson | | Anna Sedzik | Trevor Smith | Gary Titley | Karen White | Kelly Zwartouw [6]
Senior team as of October 2011
Umar Ahmed | Robert Condon | Maria Cryan Philippe Hamon James Harvey | Adam Honeysett-Watts | Lorna Jennings | Matthew Kopetski | Gerry Lumsden | Belinda Marks | Claire Marnham | Chris Mehigan | Herman Neukermans | Matthew Orman | Simon Pettinger | Kelly Rawlinson | Dualta Redmond | Kevin Sammon | Anna Sedzik | Trevor Smith | Gary Titley | Karen White |
Former staff
- Matthew Kopetski - Legal adviser on Hume Brophy's senior team from November 2009-December 2011, now a commercial specialist at the US State Department's US Mission to the European Union since July 2012[7]
- Matthew Orman - former Hume account director (April 2010 - October 2011), subsequently senior public affairs manager at Nestle, (Oct 2011- Aug 2012) now Associate director at Fleishman Hillard. Also previously worked for Interel from 2002-2008 [8]
- Claire Marnham
- Dualta Redmond - now public relations adviser at the BBC
- Kevin Sammon - was account director at Hume from January 2008- August 2102; Head of Public Relations at IDA Ireland since August 2012 and Board Member at London Irish Business Society since May 2011
- Adam Honeysett-Watts - was account director until August 2013 when he joined Burson-Marsteller, part of Young & Rubicam Group – a subsidiary of WPP (NASDAQ: WPPGY). Involved with City Future, launched by Sir John Major, which aims to link the City and the Conservative Party.
Clients
June 2014-August 2014
Adobe Systems | Alternative Investment Management Association (AIMA) | British and Irish Chamber of Commerce | Children with Cancer UK | European Fund and Asset Management Association | Glanbia Cheese UK Ltd | Martindale Pharma | Nikko Asset Management | Northern Ireland Communications Forum | Nutricia Advanced Medical Nutrition | Ovarian Cancer Action | QVC | Tate and Lyle Sugars | UK Travel Retail Forum | Vireol Bio-Industries plc | World Duty Free[5]
Feb 2013
Adobe Systems | Consilium Technologies | European Ocean Energy Association |Independent News & Media plc | QVC | Renewable Energy Association | UK Travel Retail Forum | UN Women UK (pro-bono) Vireol BioIndustries | World Duty Free [9]
December 2011
Clients generating a turnover of 200000 € - 250000 €: European Travel Retail Council Clients generating a turnover of 150000 € - 200000 €: LCH.Clearnet Group Clients generating a turnover of 100000 € - 150000 €: Alternative Investment Management Association | Aon | Chatham Financial | Deloitte | Trafigura Clients generating a turnover of 50000 € - 100000 €: Burger King | Dublin Airport Authority | Meat & Livestock Australia | Monsanto | Smiths Detection Group | Wholesale Market Brokers' Association Clients with turnover below 50000 €: BNY Mellon | CME Group | FX Alliance (FXall) | International Rugby Board | London Energy Brokers' Association | Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia | Symphony Environmental Technologies[10]
Hume Brophy previously did not publish a client list but says it worked for:[11] 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.
Previous clients included:
- British American Tobacco[1]
- National Federation of Retail Newsagents[1]
- Alternative Investment Management Association[12]
- European Fund and Asset Management Association (EFAMA)[13]
- Grant Thornton[13]
- Otkritie[13]
- Clear Path Analysis[13]
- Dillon Eustace[13]
- First State Investments [14]
- Scipion[15]
- Quanthouse
- Equilend - [16]
- 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 and their accolades
- 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) [17] 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 [18]
- 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 [19]
Contact
Hume Brophy London Office 1 Fetter Lane London EC4A 1BR
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 Twitter:@HumeBrophy
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
- ↑ PRweek reporters, Hume Brophy hires Paul Jordan as deputy MD in Brussels, prweek.com, Monday, 15 April 2013, 9:56am
- ↑ Hume Brophy Partners, accessed 13 January 2009
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Register 1st June 2014 - 31st August 2014 APPC, accessed 19 October 2014
- ↑ Hume Brophy website, acc 17 April 2013
- ↑ Matthew Kopetski, LinkedIn full version profile, accessed 15 March 2013
- ↑ Matthew Orman, LinkedIn, acc 26 April 2013
- ↑ APPC Register Entry for 1 December 2012 to 28 February 2013,
- ↑ EU Transparency register, accessed 12 December 2011
- ↑ Hume Brophy website accessed Jan 08
- ↑ Hedge funds 'must improve look', PR week October 2008
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 13.4 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
