Adele Biss, the co-founder of PR firm Biss Lancaster, has emerged as the
surprise saviour of Ian Greer’s crumbling UK lobbying business.
Biss, whose interest in IGA was first revealed by PR Week (18 October),
has hired about half of the firm’s remaining 14-strong team in the UK,
including former managing director Jeremy Sweeney and director Perry
Miller. She denied she was buying IGA but said: ‘Ian and I are still
talking about how it will work out.’
One source pointed to sometimes acrimonious negotiations as Greer held
out for a sale. No deal was forthcoming and Greer finally agreed to make
all his staff redundant and wind up the business.
The new company, AS Biss and Company, opens for business on Friday based
at IGA’s offices in Catherine Place. However, Biss said it was likely to
be in new offices from the New Year.
Biss declined to name any clients but said: ‘We’ve had a lot of
encouragement and support from the existing client base.’
Biss stepped down as managing director of Biss Lancaster in 1988. She
spent three years as joint chairman of the English Tourist Board and
British Tourist Authority until her contract ran out last May.
Biss said she spoke to Ian Greer for the first time three weeks ago.
Asked about her credentials for running a lobbying consultancy, Biss
said: ‘I know more about public affairs than I knew about public
relations when I started Biss Lancaster.’
