Tom Kelly OBE, founder and Group Chief Executive of Stakeholder Communications, HRH Prince Faisal Bin Turki Al Saud and Stakeholder Chairman, Lord Dennis Rogan, launch Stakeholder’s expansion into the Middle East during a visit to Westminster
Stakeholder Communications, the Northern Ireland-headquartered public relations company, has announced details of an expansion into Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The company, which already has offices in Belfast, London, Dublin and Newry, is joining forces with Saudi PR firm ‘F&F Public Relations’ which is co-founded by a member of the Saudi Royal Family, HRH Prince Faisal Bin Turki Al Saud.
Stakeholder is linking up with F&F Public Relations to create a new venture that will trade as ‘Stakeholder International’.
Tom Kelly OBE, founder and Group Chief Executive of Stakeholder Communications, said:
“Stakeholder has always liked to look beyond the obvious when it comes to business development – be that for our clients or our own operations. For some time the Middle East has represented a major opportunity for British and Irish firms, even more so today as Western economies work their way through the pain of the Credit Crunch.
“Stakeholder International, with the support of our new partners, is uniquely placed to represent the growing number of local firms tapping into the wealth of the Middle East, as well as UAE and Saudi-based firms which are keen to do business in the UK and Ireland.
“Our Middle Eastern offices are a first for any PR company throughout Ireland and we believe that our high level business and political links, coupled with our media skills, will open the door for many more local businesses.”
HRH Prince Faisal Bin Turki Al Saud added:
“This a great strategic fit for both organizations and we are confident that the Stakeholder brand will resonate strongly in UAE and Saudi Arabia. We hope that there is two- way business traffic for our PR offering with British and Irish companies looking for opportunities to promote their businesses in the Gulf region and with Middle Eastern companies looking for representation in the UK and Ireland.”
A graduate of the London School of Economics and George Town University, Washington DC, HRH Prince Faisal is a grandson of the late King Faisal. Prince Faisal co-founded the PR company in 2006 with Mr Farhan Al-Farhan, a former PR Director with Bell Pottinger and Head of the Legal Department at the Saudi UK Embassy.
Stakeholder Communications is Northern Ireland’s largest public relations and public affairs company, providing a full range of communication services, including design and event management, to some of the region’s best-known organizations.
The new venture will be based initially in UAE with sub-offices in the Ryiadh and Jeddah. Welcoming the initiative, Stakeholder Chairman, Lord Dennis Rogan, said:
“This is an exciting period of growth in the Middle East as Governments and companies accelerate the process of diversifying their economies beyond oil production. There is a sophisticated and well developed media sector in both countries and Stakeholder’s communications expertise will be valued by our existing and new clients.”
Stakeholder CEO, Tom Kelly, also announced that Stakehlder was becoming Edelman UK’s Northern Ireland affiliate and that a link up with a leading American-based agency was imminent.
