A group of senior ex-BSMG staff led by industry veteran Nan
Williams this week launched a new agency, Four Communications.
The agency's formal launch is planned at next week's PRWeek Forum, but
it has already acquired specialist CSR agency Synapse Communication,
with a pledge to acquire further shops in the next year.
Synapse founder Tim Lewis becomes a partner in Four, alongside former
BSMG Worldwide CEO Williams, ex-BSMG and Countrywide Porter Novelli
director Ray Eglington, and independent consultant Einir Williams.
The agency claims to have specialisms in corporate and brand reputation,
crisis and issues comms, CSR and internal communications.
According to Nan Williams the agency will look to acquire two new
capabilities in the first half of 2002, with PA, sponsorship and
editorial capabilities targeted. She said creating these divisions would
involve both acquisition of agencies and hiring of staff.
Four has been funded by the partners, along with chairman and ex-Ketchum
MD Christopher O'Donoghue.
The partners bring their own clients to the firm, having acted for them
as solo practitioners - the list now includes Shell's Better Britain
campaign, Kia Cars, and Northcliffe Electronic Publishing.
Williams said she and Eglington were still bound by non-compete clauses
following their departures from BSMG earlier this year (PRWeek, 1
December 2000).
