I didn’t attend this event so I’m not sure if Tim pressed Michelle on why this is the case, but maybe there is another story here? Perhaps you could follow up for us Tim?

I recall a presentation in Sydney some years ago (2001 maybe?) by Paul Taffe, the global CEO of H&K, who said that H&K would probably not win certain clients/business because of the clients they already had (and I think he said that H&K were representing a few dictators, had represented the Kuwait Government in exile etc, a tobacco company, a Big Oil client etc). Paul also made a comment about pitching for work with the Russian Government, who I assume would have some tricky issues but would be a very valuable account for H&K’s cash-flow.

So, maybe some potential clients object to the current/past H&K global client list, rather than objecting to H&K Australia’s talented PR people – and, as I’m sure any smart CEO is aware, a prospective client isn’t going to tell you that, are they? (and may I add a disclosure here that many talented H&K Australia PR people have spoken at Frocomm conferences)