Details have emerged of the PR brief set by Saudi construction
conglomerate the Bin Laden Group to distance itself from fugitive
militant Osama bin Laden.
The family is now looking to recruit one agency on a global basis and is
on the verge of appointing City PR firm WMC Communications.
The Bin Laden Group has reportedly been searching in the US and UK for a
PR agency to provide damage limitation for some weeks.
It is understood the group wants to make it widely known that the family
has no contact with Osama, whom the family disowned seven years ago.
WMC chairman and founder David Wynne-Morgan confirmed he had held three
meetings with the Bin Laden Group.
He said: 'We have checked the company at the highest levels on both
sides of the Atlantic and our understanding is that the company has not
supported terrorism in any form.
'I think both the US and UK governments would like someone to do a very
good job for the Bin Laden Group because it further isolates Osama,' he
added.
It is understood the group is looking for reputation PR in the Middle
East, US and UK.
In the US, the Bin Laden Group employs Hullin Metz founder Tim Metz on a
basic media relations brief, although speculation suggests his role may
extend to reputation PR.
It is believed the group also approached Manhattan-based PR firm
Attention America, led by Steve Goldstein, last month (PRWeek, 5
October).
