Luther Pendragon

Luther Pendragon is a London-based public relations and communications agency.

Luther Pendragon Ltd
TypeSubsidiary
IndustryCommunications
Founded1 August 1991 (1991-08-01) in London [1]
HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
Number of locations
Key people
Simon Whale
(Managing Director)
ServicesPublic relations
ParentOctopus Group
Websitewww.luther.co.uk

History

Founded in 1992 by media journalist George Pitcher and television journalist Charles Stewart-Smith,[2] and so named due to Pitcher's interest in Arthurian legends,[3] the firm grew through the 1990s off the back of major and often controversial clients such as British Gas, Kimberly Clark, Holocaust Memorial Day and the Hinduja family. Luther Pendragon lays claim to having developed the professional practice of issues management, but this is disputed in the PR industry.

In 2004 ex-Civil Servant Mike Granatt then joined the consultancy.[4][5] His clients included the Speaker of the House of Commons Michael Martin, a position from which he resigned in February 2008 saying he had been misled over a scandal involving the Speaker's expenses.[6] One of his clients in 2007 was the BBC Trust.[7]

In 2005, the firm was subject to a management buy-out, said to be worth £11 million by the trade magazine PR Week. Current clients include Reuben Brothers.[8]

Luther Pendragon and the Church of England

Luther Pendragon handles all media inquiries for London and Winchester dioceses of the Church of England.[9][10] In June 2015 an open letter to Archbishop Justin Welby from survivors, whistle-blowers, legal experts,and campaigners on abuse raised concern about the use of private scandal management companies. The survivors said Luther Pendragon had been known to "obstruct, apply pressure, and threaten survivors and whistle-blowers who had spoken out about Anglican clergy abuse". In the letter the survivors called upon parishioners in Winchester and London dioceses to withhold donations until their bishops terminated the Luther Pendragon contracts. The Archbishop of Canterbury invited the group of campaigners to meet with him at Lambeth Palace. The letter was later accepted as a key document at IICSA, the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse.

Clients

See also

References
  1. "Companies House Profile". Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  2. Hannah Crown (2 July 2012). "Luther Pendragon co-founder takes Blue Rubicon directorship". prweek.com. Retrieved 2012-08-08.
  3. Hall, Ian (4 October 2002). "Profile: George Pitcher, Luther Pendragon". PR Week. Retrieved 26 April 2017.
  4. Lepper, Joe (14 November 2003). "PROFILE: Mike Granatt, Luther Pendragon - Strategic player who will say No, Minister". PR Week. Retrieved 16 February 2010.
  5. "Who we are - Mike Granatt". Luther Pendragon. Archived from the original on 22 January 2010. Retrieved 16 February 2010.
  6. Oliver, Jonathan (24 February 2008). "Top aide Mike Granatt quits over Speaker Michael Martin's expenses". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 16 February 2010.
  7. Black, Alex (21 September 2006). "BBC's new governors set to use Luther Pendragon". PR Week. Retrieved 16 February 2010.
  8. "Advisors". Reuben Brothers. Retrieved 2012-08-08.
  9. "Media Support". Diocese of London. Retrieved 26 April 2017.
  10. "Communications". Diocese of Winchester. Retrieved 26 April 2017.


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