Difference between revisions of "Brian Basham"
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| − | 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]]. | + | 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|BBC}} | :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|BBC}} | ||
Revision as of 14:09, 30 January 2012
Brian Basham is a veteran PR man and chairman of the corporate services and research house Equity Development.
Contents
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. [1]
BA Dirty Tricks
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.[2] 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. [1]
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.
After PR
- Directorate Change
- The Board of the Company announce that with effect from 11 September 2006 Brian Basham has agreed to be appointed as a Non-Executive director and Chairman of the Company.
Associates
- John Coyle
- Alan Parker - founder of Brunswick PR, started his PR career working at Broad Street Associates for six years [3]
- Neil Hamilton the disgraced former Tory MP
Further Reading
http://search.ft.com/search/article.html?id=011221000251 http://www.investegate.co.uk/articlePrint.aspx?id=200203111407457447S
Notes
- ↑ Steve Bevan, 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
- ↑ Matthew Horsman, The kind of miracle that even Brian couldn't fix, The Independent, 8 October 1995
- ↑ Robert Gray, TOP 150 PR CONSULTANCIES: Brunswick -- Bashful But Still Bullish, 24 April 2008, accessed 31 Jan 2012
- ^ 1993: BA dirty tricks against Virgin cost £3m, BBC Online, On this day, 11 January.
- ^ WHITE STAR PROPERTY HOLDINGS PLC: Directorate Change 08.09.2006 12:55
