The dust from the virtual collapse of cash for questions lobbying firm
Ian Greer Associates began to settle this week.
Former IGA UK director Jonathan Hopkins and managing director of its
Scottish operation SEIGA, Robbie MacDuff - who resigned together three
weeks ago - have both got new jobs. Hopkins as head of public affairs
at The Rowland Company and MacDuff as managing director of Westminster
Strategy’s new Scottish operation: Strategy Scotland.
Hopkins was IGA’s newest board level recruit - he joined the firm from
the National Union of Teachers just 11 months ago.
At Rowland he becomes a board director and will head up an 11-strong
public affairs team. He fills a gap left by the departure of David
Hughes, head of the agency’s public affairs division Rowland Sallingbury
Casey, and the imminent loss of RSC chairman and Conservative
parliamentary candidate John Maples.
MacDuff’s appointment as managing director of Strategy Scotland
represents Westminster Strategy’s first move into Scotland in a bid to
captialise on Labour’s plans for a Scottish Parliament.
However, the prize catch may have gone to APCO. The firm has signed up
four of the eight staff at IGA Europe in Brussels.
Managing director Brad Staples, account directors Liam McArthur and
Edward Walsh, and an account executive, are to join APCO Europe on 1
November. Staples will take the title of joint managing director with
Mark Dober.
APCO has also hired Nick Andrews from The Rowland Company, bringing its
total Brussels staff up to 15.
IGA Europe was one of the group’s more profitable operations - with an
estimated fee income of around pounds 500,000 a year. APCO president and
CEO, Margery Kraus, said Staples’ appointment was not contingent upon
his bringing his clients with him. However, it is expected many will
follow.
Kraus praised Staples’ ‘ethical stance’ and said it would be
‘unfortunate’ if there was any cloud over him as a result of the
allegations about IGA’s activities in the UK.
Meanwhile IGA founder Ian Greer said in a letter to the APPC last week
that he expected the firm to be under new ownership by the end of the
month. Adele Biss, co-founder of PR firm Biss Lancaster and former
chairman of the British Tourist Authority, is tipped as the most likely
purchaser.
