Bell Pottinger sets sights on security industry

Lord Bell’s agency already ret­ains defence clients including BAE Systems, Rolls Royce and MBDA. It hopes that the new defence and security unit, to be launched later this month, will help it to expand its client base amid uncertain times for both sectors.

The new unit will be overseen by Bell Pottinger Public Affairs chair Peter Bingle. He said: ‘This is a really challenging time for the defence and security ind­ustries. The Comprehensive Spending Review settlement was very tough and the MoD is now under huge financial and political pressure.

‘The security industry also needs to improve the way it communicates to its key political stakeholders.

Separately... Bell Pottinger owner Chime Communications has acquired Stuart Higgins Comm­unications in what is believed to be a multimillion pound deal. Former Sun editor Stuart Higgins launched the agency in 1999.