PR firm will be renamed after founder’s gaffe
One of Scotland’s best-known PR agencies will be renamed after its founder quit following an ill-judged social media post.
A management buyout is planned at Beattie Media and the firm will be renamed and rebranded, according to the chief executive.
Gordon Beattie resigned from the firm he set up 40 years ago after posting a message saying it did not hire “blacks, gays or Catholics” before going on to say the firm recruited regardless of colour, sexual orientation or religion.
Beattie said he issued the post with the best of intent but accepted that the language was “inappropriate” and said he was “truly sorry” for the offence caused.
However, the post and the language he used was heavily criticised, with chief executive Laurna Woods saying it was well-intentioned but “reckless and out of touch”.
She will now lead a management buyout of the firm, which will be renamed and
rebranded. She said: “There have been discussions about an MBO for some time and today marks the start of a new chapter for our people and our clients.
“I will be dedicating all my efforts into building a dynamic new agency that is leading in every respect, from the services we provide to the culture we live by.”
Monaco-based former journalist Beattie, 66, first set up the business in Motherwell, North Lanarkshire.
It is now based in London and has offices in Canada, Ireland and in a number of cities across the UK.
The company’s clients include Tesco and Cala Homes and its services include crisis management.
An oil painting of fruit and roses on a table top by the leading Scottish Colourist artist Samuel John Peploe has fetched £400,000 at auction in London.
It was completed in 1912 shortly after Peploe returned to Edinburgh following two years living in France, and was influenced by Vincent Van Gogh.