Hanover Group acquires Middle East arm of PR firm Bell Pottinger

The European corporate communications consultancy firm Hanover Group has acquired the Middle Eastern arm of collapsed public relations (PR) firm Bell Pottinger amid break-up.

Specialising in strategic consultancy advice in the financial services, healthcare, technology, media and telecoms sectors, and with offices presently in the London, Brussels and Dublin, the Hanover Group states that the acquisition will increase its current Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) team of 125 regional consultants by an additional 15, and boost its regional 2018 income from fees beyond £20 million.

While the UK-based Bell Pottinger recently collapsed amid accusations of provoking racial tensions in South Africa, Hanover in a statement iterated that Bell Pottinger Middle East was not involved in the affair, adding that its raft of existing blue-chip clients have remained supportive during the turmoil.

Hanover’s founder and Chief Executive Charles Lewington spoke highly of the Middle Eastern subsidiary; “Bell Pottinger Middle East is a terrific business with a talented, professionally run team which presents a strategic opportunity for Hanover to supercharge its growth in the region.”

The managing director of Hanover Middle East, Jonty Summers, will add the new business to his portfolio, with its name to change to Hanover Middle East, while Archie Berens, managing director of the Dubai practice, will take on the chairman role. Berens said of the outcome, “I am delighted we have found a professional partner for our first-class team, whom I would like to thank for their loyalty and dedication during the uncertainty of the last two months. Hanover is an award-winning consultancy and incredibly well run, and we are looking forward to an exciting future together.”

Earlier this year in the Middle East, McKinsey & Company acquired Elixir, a Saudi Arabian management consultancy with around 140 employees in Jeddah and Riyadh.