BRUSSELS: Public relations company BSMG Worldwide has bought
Brussels lobbying firm Adamson Associates.
By merging Adamson with the Brussels arm of its London agency Charles
Barker BSMG, the company has created one of the five largest lobbying
operations in Brussels.
Adamson BSMG will employ around 23 staff in Brussels, as compared with
GPC, which has 35 staff, APCO Europe, with 26, Hill and Knowlton, with
28 staff, and European Public Policy Advisers, which has around 25
staff.
Paul Adamson, who founded the eponymous company in 1989, will become
chief executive of Adamson BSMG and will be European head of BSMG’s
public affairs practice. Andy Johnson, who led Charles Barker’s Brussels
office, will take a senior position in Adamson BSMG.
BSMG would not disclose how much it paid for the company. Paul Adamson
owned 99 per cent of the shares and is now on a four year performance
related contract with BSMG.
Adamson will report to Charles Barker chief executive Tim Sutton who, in
a related move has been appointed chairman of BSMG’s new European
board.
Sutton has also been made a member of the worldwide board.
