By Kevin McCauley
Chime Communications, parent of the U.K.'s biggest PR firm Bell Pottinger, reported first-half pre-tax profit surged 39 percent to $18M.
BP, Good Relations, Harvard, Insight, Resonate, ITA PR and Corporate Citizenship accounted for 49 percent of Chime's operating profit.
The PR group chalked up $108M revenues, down from last year's $120M. Operating profit rose 17 percent to $12M as cost control measures paid off.
Public affairs, financial, technology, corporate and consumer categories turned in robust performances.
Chime chief Lord Bell noted the upbeat financials occurred during global recession, credit crunch and Euro crisis.
He referred to Chime as the "success story of the marcoms industry over the last few years."
Chime claims it won 658 pitches during the first-half. Airbus Global, Unilever, United Arab Emirates University, Sri Lanki, Gatwick Express, Nintendo and O2 Digital ae notable pick-ups.
First-half highlights include soccer's David Beckham?s goodwill visit to the British military, Korean National Oil Co.'s bid for Dana Petroleum, Qatar Holding?s acquisition of Harrods and a Wimbledon campaign to promote playing of tennis that featured Maria Sharapova, Judy Murray and Tim Henman. |