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TOP 150 PR CONSULTANCIES 2003 - Ones to watch
Melanie Riley
Andrew Millington
Katie Hatcher
About Bell Yard
All Directors and Consultants abide by Codes of Conduct of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) and the Public Relations Consultants Association (PRCA).
Melanie Riley
Melanie Riley has over fifteen years PR experience in the field of corporate communications, public affairs and litigation PR. Melanie co-founded Bell Yard in 2002. She has provided litigation PR and communications advice on a wide variety of issues ranging from commercial disputes to employment litigation on behalf of both businesses and high-profile individuals.
Melanie previously worked at Cicero Consulting, where she was Associate Director. During her time at Cicero, Melanie advised among others, Elite Model Management in its defamation action against the BBC and to ICAP, in its dispute with Cantor Fitzgerald.
Prior to Cicero, Melanie was employed by Ludgate Communications. There she undertook a wide variety of litigation PR projects in areas ranging from medical negligence to employment law and personal injury. She also developed an interest in consumer affairs and retailing, which ranged across both litigation and political PR mandates. Her work included many European assignments, as well as those in the UK.
Melanie began her communications career by joining Nomura International, where she became responsible for European Media Relations, responsible for day-to-day liaison with financial print and broadcast media across Europe.
Melanie’s public affairs experience includes: John Lewis Partnership (whom she advised on its Competition Act campaign against certain Dixon’s supply agreements); and Nike UK, whom she advised on ‘rip-off Britain’ issues and Nike’s subsequent DTI submission (of which she was co-author). She also advised Nike on a new communications structure to handle consumer affairs issues.
Andrew Millington
Andrew Millington has over 20 years experience in corporate communications including all aspects of reputation management, crisis and issues management and legal PR. Most recently, he has worked as an independent consultant, advising clients primarily in the professional services sector.
He was previously a Partner at Financial Dynamics, where his clients included Berwin Leighton Paisner with a remit to provide communication support for the Corporate Finance team and with global legal firm Reed Smith, on all aspects of corporate reputation. International projects included a pan-European assignment for the London Stock Exchange and a global launch plan for the proposed IPO of part of PwC's consulting business.
He was previously a Director of Shandwick International where he worked on a number of global clients including crisis scenario planning for MasterCard, and with Marks and Spencer, countering allegations of mis-labelling, child labour abuse and designer 'rip offs'. His work on all aspects of corporate communications included the roll-out of the sale of Mondex International franchises, the management of communications during the de-merger of British Gas and with GEC-Marconi Avionics during the build-up to a major defense contract bid. He has experienced corporate reputation management from the 'inside' during a secondment to Shell International. Law firms worked with include Harmann Hemmelrath & Partner during their launch into the UK and Berrymans Lace Mawer.
His focus on Corporate work began as a Director of Christow Consultants, a consultancy dedicated exclusively to Corporate Communications although his experience also includes an understanding of trade and consumer PR established at Condor and Biss Lancaster. Before moving into PR he was a journalist.
Katie Hatcher
Katie Hatcher joined the Bell Yard team in May 2007 and has since been assisting clients on both litigation and crisis PR situations. Her interest in this area was sparked when she worked on a project for a US attorney visiting London during the run-up to a high profile trial in the USA. She attended a talk given by Bell Yard shortly afterwards and was excited to learn that there was a firm specialising in this niche market this side of the Atlantic.
Katie has an interest in new media and its effect on public positioning especially in relation to corporate crisis situations.
Her PR experience includes lobbying and awareness raising for a national charity, communications audits for a government agency, media relations for an international trade association and various communications projects for a wide variety of other companies, agencies and individuals.
Katie has a degree in Philosophy and Mathematics from Bristol University and last year completed the CIPR Advanced Certificate in Public Relations. She is an Associate member of the CIPR and participates in their developing excellence scheme.