Company history

November
Acquired on 20th November 2013, Just Marketing International, a global marketing firm focused on motorsport.

October
Sold MMK in Germany on 1st October 2013.

July
Launched dedicated qualitative recruitment agency, Cherry Picked.

June
Jackie Brock-Doyle, OBE, former Director of Communications and Public Affairs, London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, is appointed Group Chief Executive of The Good Relations Group.

May
Acquired People Marketing UK Limited ['PMUK'], a sports marketing and communications agency based in Shanghai, and WARL Group Limited ['WARL'], a London based specialist 'shopper marketing' agency.

January
The Group exercised its option to acquire Lord Coe's 93% interest in The Complete Leisure Group on 30th January 2013.

On 28 January 2013, the registered office address for Chime Communications plc changed from 14 Curzon Street, London, W1J 5HN to Southside, 105 Victoria Street, London, SW1E 6QT.

Lord Coe is appointed Executive Chairman of CSM Sport & Entertainment.

December
Mervyn Davies, Lord Davies of Abersoch, is appointed Chairman of Chime.

October
Acquired 100% of pH Associates Limited, one of the UK's leading companies providing data and market access services to the pharmaceutical industry.

July
Launches Conduit Marketing, an international data value architects consultancy-led business, for VCCP.

June
Launched Channel Health as a joint venture with Open Health and Carwyn Jones to deliver digital services in the health sector.

Sold 75% of Bell Pottinger Group to a management team including Lord Bell and Piers Pottinger.

May
Acquired 51% of Harvey Walsh Limited, a company providing market access and data services to the pharmaceutical and NHS, for Open Health.

March
Chime’s Insight and Engagement Division (CIE), launched Watermelon Research, a new bespoke digital research agency.

Acquired McKenzie Clark, a specialist graphics and branding company for CSM.

Acquired iLUKA, a company that manages and activates major events, for CSM.

Acquired 40% of Strat Agile, a data analytics company based in Singapore, for Tree.

Rough Hill, a youth marketing agency specialising in digital, social and experiential, has been acquired by VCCP.

February
Acquired Succinct Communications, a leading provider of medial communications for prescription medicines.
This will become part of Open Health.

January
Launched Open Health, the first channel and discipline neutral agency in the health communications sector.

March
Launched Chime Ventures to back entrepreneurs to fuel Chime's organic growth.

Essentially's hospitality team rebranded as Full Access Hospitality.

April
Acquired Icon who are market leaders in branding implementation for major sporting events.

Acquired healthcare agency Lane, Earl & Cox (LEC) for Open Health.

May
Acquired Golden Goal Sports Ventures in Brazil for the Sports Marketing Division.

July
Acquired Reynolds-MacKenzie, a healthcare public relations company for Open Health.

October
Acquired marketing strategy company Gulliford Consulting for VCCP.

November
Acquired advertising agency Hooper Galton for VCCP.

December
Acquired rugby player agency Essentially France for CSM.

January
Acquired Pelham, a financial PR company, now called Pelham Bell Pottinger.

March
Acquired Tree, a data analytics business.

Opened VCCP's office in Prague to service the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

April
Opened Pelham Bell Pottinger's office in Singapore.

July
Acquired pmplegacy, a global sports events consultancy.

September
Acquired acefieldwork, a face-to-face field research company.

November
Opened Fast Track's office in Hong Kong.

January
Opened Bell Pottinger Middle East in Bahrain.

March
Acquire Ptarmigan in Leeds, now called Ptarmigan Bell Pottinger.

VCCP Health launched, an advertising agency specialising in the healthcare sector.

October
Opened The Sports Business office in London.

November
Acquired Essentially Group, a leading sports marketing, media, management and services company.

Set up Bell Pottinger Change & Internal Communications.

January
Launched Brand Democracy, a consumer and campaign research company.

March
Launched Bell Pottinger Health, a healthcare public relations company.

Acquired MC-Bio Communications Ltd, a corporate healthcare public relations company, which became part of Bell Pottinger Health.

April
Acquired Bankbrae Holdings Ltd, trading as The Sports Business, a sports marketing and public relations company, based in Glasgow, which has become part of the Fast Track Group.

Opened VCCP's office in Berlin, Germany.

July
VCCP and Fast Track opened in Doha, Qatar.

August
Purchased a 40% stake in SomeOne, a design practice.

November
Launched Icon, an integrated brand communications agency.

December
Set up Caucus World, an online research company.

January
Launched VCCP Blue.

February
Acquired a 75% stake in Facts International, a fieldwork research company.

April
Launched Bell Pottinger Communications USA LLC in Washington DC, USA.

Acquired Fast Track Sales Ltd and its subsidiaries. Fast Track is the UK’s leading sports marketing agency.

July
Opened Bell Pottinger Middle East in Abu Dhabi.

September
Acquired The Corporate Citizenship Company and The Corporate Citizenship Company Inc, a global corporate responsibility consultancy.

November
Acquired specialist sports public relations company Stuart Higgins Communications.

January
Sale of remaining 51% of HHCL to WPP.

September
Launched VCCP Search, a dedicated search engine marketing agency.

January
Launched Bell Pottinger Middle Eastin Dubai, UAE.

July
Acquisition of VCCP Limited, an integrated marketing services agency based in London.

Acquisition of Baxter Hulme, a public relations company based in Macclesfield.

September
Acquisition of De Facto Communications Ltd, a leading healthcare and life science public relations consultancy based in London.

March
Placing and Open Offer and reduction of debt by £18.5 million to £10.8 million.

December
Acquisition of Traffic Werbeagentur GmbH, a German marketing communications consultancy.

January
Sale of 49% of HHCL to WPP.

July
Set up Resonate, a consumer public relations company.

December
Acquisition of 70% of TTA Public Relations Ltd, a property marketing business.

August
Acquisition of Ingram Group Promotions, a sales promotion business, now called Branded Moments of Truth (BMT).

September
Acquisition of The Smart Company, a corporate and social responsibility consultancy, now merged into Corporate Citizenship.

October
Acquisition of MMK Markt & Medien Kommunikation GmbH, a consumer and corporate public relations business.

March
Acquired Harvard Public Relations Ltd, Insight Marketing & Communications Ltd.

November
Acquisition of QBO, a PR company specialising in the consumer, business to business and public sector markets, now called Bell Pottinger Public Relations.

Acquired Landmark Communications Ltd and Teamspirit Ltd.

Acquired Opinion Leader Research Ltd.

Acquired Pure Media Ltd.

Acquired HHCL Group Ltd with WPP taking 29.9% stake.

Floated on the London Stock Exchange with initial market capitalisation of £19 million.

Management buyout from Lowe Howard Spink & Bell plc.