Beattie Communications founder to speak in Guernsey

Monday 08 February 2010

The founder of Scotland’s largest public relations company, now one of the leading full service PR and web marketing agencies in the UK, will lead a talk about his colourful business life at the Old Government House Hotel at 6pm on Wednesday 24 February.

Former journalist Gordon Beattie left the Scottish Evening Times at the age of 26 to set up a news agency, Beattie Media, in 1986.

Enticing colleagues from newspapers, television and radio to join him, the company quickly established itself as a leader in the field of media relations.

However, Glasgow-born Beattie’s involvement in the well-chronicled Scottish ‘lobbygate’ scandal in 1999, resulted in him closing his public affairs division after The Observer published a sting involving two of his employees, including Kevin Reid, son of then Scottish Secretary.

A controversial figure, Beattie set about growing his business into the Beattie Communications Group. He shocked the industry by opening in London and staffing his office with actors in order to win a £2.5m PR contract.

He makes no bones about his belief that women are better communicators than men and reveals his proudest moment was when 19-year-old former journalist Laurna O'Donnell joined the business and rose to become group managing director inside a decade. O’Donnell will be joining Beattie in his talk.

Headquartered in London, with eight offices across the UK and specialist teams covering 14 industry sectors, they are now the largest independent communications consultancy in Britain. They have sister agencies in 100 cities around the globe. They also have a fast growing international marketing operation specialising in advertising, media buying, digital marketing and call centre outreach, with clients in the USA, Canada, Europe and the Middle East.

Tickets, priced £15 for members of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations, £25 for non-members, which includes drinks and light refreshments, are available from Jo Delbridge, telephone 07781102704 or email jod@gg.specsavers.com.