Faaez Samadi
Sep 8, 2017

Bell Pottinger Asia rebrands as Klareco Communications

Memo from CEO states that Asia business of beleaguered UK namesake is "ringfenced" and solvent.

Ang Shih Huei
Ang Shih Huei

Bell Pottinger Asia today relaunched as Klareco Communications, formalising its total separation from Bell Pottinger UK, which is close to collapse following the scandal over its involvement in a campaign in South Africa.

A memo from Asia CEO Ang Shih Huei (see below) said that it had been an “extraordinary and difficult time” but that the Asia team was now relaunching as Klareco Communications under a new ownership structure.

“This underlines what we have been reiterating over recent days—that our team in Asia, is and always has been, a separate legal entity from Bell Pottinger in the UK,” the memo read. “While the UK business is expected to go into administration as early as next week, the Asia business is entirely ringfenced and solvent. Our teams are intact, we continue to serve our clients and it is entirely business as usual.”

Klareco means "clarity" in Esperanto, and Huei said the name “underlines the diversity and inclusive values of this team, and our aspirations for the future”.

Bell Pottinger’s rapid demise last week stems from work for South African client Oakbay Investment, which was deemed “likely to inflame racial discord” by the UK Public Relations and Communications Association. The PRCA then expelled the PR agency, and CEO James Henderson resigned. Numerous clients severed ties with the agency following the revelations.

Source:
Campaign Asia

Follow us

Top news, insights and analysis every weekday

Sign up for Campaign Bulletins

Related Articles

Just Published

1 hour ago

Pay-to-play pitches putting fair competition at ...

VoxComm warns that agencies paying intermediaries for pitch opportunities could undermine fair competition and limit advertisers' choices.

1 hour ago

Ogilvy names Clare Lawson as global president of ...

Lawson is promoted from global chief client officer.

1 hour ago

Martin Sorrell on 'lack of strategy' at Omnicom and ...

In an interview with Campaign Germany, the 80-year-old S4 Capital chief executive took aim at rivals, fielded questions about his own holding company and made predictions about the future of adland.

2 hours ago

India's ad watchdog partners with gaming bodies to ...

The ASCI will help to set up a monitoring cell to collaboratively spot and report offshore betting and gambling advertisements in India.