Open Road

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Open Road is as independent consultancy founded in 2007, specialising in corporate communications, public affairs and corporate responsibility.

People

Its founders are:

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 He has 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 [2] and online communications for Labour candidate Chuka Umunna – he became an MP in 2010. [3]
  • Rosie Clarke - senior consultant, previously worked for Lanson Communications for 4 years, and before that for Liberal Democrat MP Annette Brooke. [4]
  • 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.[5]
  • 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. [6]

Clients

Lobbying clients, according to the Association of Professional Political Consultants's register in 2008 include:[7]
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

  • 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.'[9] The appointment coincides with growing anger over the government's plans to part-privatise the Royal Mail[10]
  • 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[11]

2011

Lobbying clients, according to the Association of Professional Political Consultants's register in 2011 include:[12]

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 CorporationEverything EverywhereAstraZeneca / Bristol-Myers Squibb Alliance in DiabetesUK Food Chain AllianceEMRNovusBayerPrudentialBritish Metals Recycling AssociationRoyal Bank of ScotlandAssociation of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) • Universal MusicAirwaveVEVOAkzoNobelNewspaper Licensing AgencyJanssenBristol-Myers Squibb VirologyWilliam HillResearch in Motion – BlackberryAllergan

Contacts

Golden Cross House
8 Duncannon Street
London
WC2N 4JF
Tel+44 (0)20 7484 5014; Fax+44 (0)20 7484 5100
http://www.theopen-road.com

Notes

  1. Open Road joins APPC, 13 February 2007 APPC welcomes a new member, accessed 9 December 2007.
  2. Open Road Our Team, accessed 4 February 2009
  3. Open Road Our Team, acc 6 October 2011
  4. Rosie Clarke, Open Road website, acc 6 October 2011
  5. Our Team, Open Road website, acc 6 October 2011
  6. Our Team, Open Road website, acc 6 October 2011
  7. APPC register, to August 2008
  8. Public Affairs: Bookie signs Open Road, Pr Week, 19 Jan 2009
  9. Pr Week, 15 Feb 2009
  10. Brown faces his biggest rebellion as Labour anger at postal sell-off grows, the Guardian, 25 Feb 2009
  11. PRWeek, 21 June 2007
  12. APPC register, 1 March - 31 May 2011

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