Company:SEC Newgate

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Short description: Global public relations and communications firm
SEC Newgate
TypePrivate
IndustryPublic affairs, public relations, communications, research
Founded1989
FounderFiorenzo Tagliabue
Headquarters
Milan
,
Italy
Key people
Fiorenzo Tagliabue, Jon Silvan, Jefrey Pollock, Emma Kane, Brian Tyson, Tom Parker, Paola Ambrosino, Éric Giuily
Websitewww.secnewgate.com

SEC Newgate is an independent global public affairs and corporate communications consulting group, headquartered in Milan, Italy, with over 50 offices in more than 20 countries globally. The group stems from the Italian consultancy SEC, founded in 1989 in Milan by Fiorenzo Tagliabue, who's global CEO of the SEC Newgate Group since its establishment in September 2019.

SEC Newgate serves clients of a very different nature and size, from big multinationals to national and local enterprises to institutions and charities; the Group's focus is growing and protecting their reputation and their business, via strategic communication and advocacy counsel based on comprehensive insight and research.

History

Early history

SEC Relazioni Pubbliche e Istituzionali, the founding business, was established in Milan in 1989 by Fiorenzo Tagliabue, who has been CEO from its establishment until 2017, when, while remaining as president, he was succeeded by Paola Ambrosino, first as General Manager of the agency which was firstly renamed SEC spa and currently the Italian business since 1 July 2021 has been rebranded SEC Newgate Italia srl Società Benefit.

Starting from 1992, SEC consolidated and expanded its offer in Italy, with acquisitions and start-ups in key cities such as Rome, Venice and Turin.

2013–2019

2013 marked the beginning of SEC's internationalisation, with its first acquisition in Belgium: Cambre (now SEC Newgate EU), a Brussels-based European advocacy and communications firm founded by Tom Parker (currently Executive Chairman of the latter). Since then, SEC made other strategic acquisitions in Europe, such as Madrid-based ACH in Spain (now SEC Newgate Spain)[1] and Berlin-based Kolh PR in Germany (now SEC Newgate Germany), Martis Consulting, a Warsaw-based agency (now rebranded SEC Newgate CCE)[2] and Latin America, such as Bogotà-based Newlink Comunicationes Estrategicas in Colombia (Now SEC Newgate Colombia).

In July 2016, SEC is listed on London Stock Exchange’s Alternative Investment Market (AIM) at £1.5 per share,[3] with a launch ceremony that saw the participation of the then Deputy Head of Mission of the Italian Embassy in London, Minister Vincenzo Celeste.[4]

In 2017, SEC acquired a 19.3% stake in another communications group listed at the London Stock Exchange, Porta Communications ltd, a deal that also involved commercial collaboration with Newgate Communications, Redleaf Communications, Publicasity and Australia's Engage Comms, now reaching a footprint covering UK, Hong Kong, Singapore and Australia . Fiorenzo Tagliabue joined the Porta board as non-executive deputy chairman.

In 2018, SEC continued its expansion in Europe with the acquisition of the majority stake of CLAI (now CLAI SEC Newgate France), a Paris-based corporate advocacy firm founded by Eric Giuily (now CEO of the latter).[5]

In 2019, on the 30th anniversary, SEC merged with Porta with a reverse takeover that ended on September 4 with the establishment of SEC Newgate Group[6] at that time operating in 14 countries with 30 offices (The previous year, Porta Communications combined Newgate and Redleaf, appointing Redleaf chief executive Emma Kane and Newgate Australia managing partner Brian Tyson as joint CEOs[7] (currently respectively SEC Newgate UK's CEO and SEC Newgate Australia's CEO).[8]

2020 to present

From 2020, SEC Newgate Group has been boosting the expansion of its footprint and the consolidation of its role as key global public affairs and corporate communications group.

In May 2020, it ranked 30th on PRovoke Media Top 250 Global Consultancies Ranking, with fee income for 2019 amounting to $79,501,533 .[9] At the end of the same year, it completed the acquisition majority stake of Berlin-based Orca Affairs gmbH and launched a start-up in the US, SEC Newgate US.

In January 2021, SEC Newgate increased its stake in Newington from 60% to 100% and merged its two UK agencies, Newington and Newgate, to form one business rebranded as SEC Newgate UK, with Emma Kane as CEO and Mark Glover as Executive Chairman.[10]

In March, operations started in Central Easter Europe with the establishment of SEC Newgate CEE in Warsaw, Poland and in June, it acquired majority stake of Twister Communications Middle East, the Dubai-based branch of Italian PR firm Twister Communications Group, then rebranded SEC Newgate Middle East. October 2021 marked also the launch of the first thought-leadership initiative of the Group: ESG Monitor.[11]

2022 is a key year for SEC Newgate: it delisted from the AIM stock market to go private, backed with €49 million investment from private equity fund Three Hills Capital Partners.[12] In April, SEC Newgate acquired majority stake of US public affairs and research agency Global Strategy Group with founders Jon Silvan and Jefrey Pollock remaining as CEO and President, respectively).[13] In November 2022, footprint in the American continent is completed with the acquisition of Mexican-headquartered another, with a number of offices in Central and Latin America.

ESG Monitor

Since 2021, SEC Newgate has published its thought-leadership research study, to examine how Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) issues influence perceptions of business and government.

The first edition of the ESG Monitor was conducted on 10,000 people in 10 countries, whereas its second edition expanded the panel to 12,000 people in 12 countries.[14][15][16][17][18][19][20]

References

  1. "Italy's SEC Acquires Majority Stake In Spanish Firm". https://www.provokemedia.com/latest/article/italy's-sec-acquires-majority-stake-in-spanish-firm. 
  2. "Italian Agency SEC Acquires Berlin-Based Firm As Expansion Continues". https://www.provokemedia.com/latest/article/italian-agency-sec-acquires-berlin-based-firm-as-expansion-continues. 
  3. "Sec, debutto in Borsa Aim Londra". https://www.ansa.it/lombardia/notizie/economia_territorio/2016/07/25/sec-debutto-in-borsa-aim-londra_6074ab5d-a15a-4e52-a160-29d99a76dc07.html. 
  4. "Deputy Head of Mission Vincenzo Celeste participates in launch of Italy’s SEC PR agency in the AIM listing of the London Stock Exchange". https://amblondra.esteri.it/en/news/dall_ambasciata/2016/07/il-vice-capo-missione-vincenzo-2/. 
  5. Harrington, John. "Italian PR firm SEC makes acquisition in France". https://www.prweek.com/article/1519135/italian-pr-firm-sec-makes-acquisition-france. 
  6. Vestito, Cosimo. "ULTIMATA LA FUSIONE TRA SEC E PORTA: NASCE UFFICIALMENTE SEC NEWGATE". Engage. https://www.engage.it/agenzie/fusione-sec-porta-sec-newgate.aspx. 
  7. "Telum Talks To... Brian Tyson, Deputy CEO of SEC Newgate and Managing Partner of SEC Newgate Australia". Telum Media. https://www.telummedia.com/public/news/telum-talks-to-brian-tyson-deputy-ceo-of-sec-newgate-and-managing-partner-of-sec-newgate-australia/z0v802n9lq. 
  8. Pawinska Sims, Maya. "Porta Shakes Up Leadership As It Combines Newgate and Redleaf". PRovoke Media. https://www.provokemedia.com/latest/article/porta-shakes-up-leadership-as-it-combines-newgate-and-redleaf. 
  9. "GLOBAL TOP 250 PR AGENCY RANKING 2020". https://www.provokemedia.com/ranking-and-data/global-pr-agency-rankings/2020-pr-agency-rankings/top-250. 
  10. "SEC Newgate SpA Merger and Rebranding of UK Agencies". Financial Times. https://markets.ft.com/data/announce/detail?dockey=1323-14829683-35RQUDVJMG61N09RA5KIOOPK8K. 
  11. Gorni, Francesco. "SEC Newgate, l’80% degli italiani è interessato alle iniziative di governo e aziende". Milano Finanza. https://www.milanofinanza.it/news/sec-newgate-l-80-degli-italiani-e-interessato-alle-iniziative-di-governo-e-aziende-202110220959289867. 
  12. "SEC Newgate, alleanza con fondo THCP e delisting dalla borsa di Londra". La Stampa. https://finanza.lastampa.it/News/2022/01/19/sec-newgate-alleanza-con-fondo-thcp-e-delisting-dalla-borsa-di-londra/MTgxXzIwMjItMDEtMTlfVExC. 
  13. Occhilupo, Donato. "Public affairs e advocacy senza confini". Fortune Italia. https://www.fortuneita.com/2023/02/13/public-affairs-e-advocacy-senza-confini/. 
  14. Wolman, Jordan. "The elusive ESG". POLITICO. https://www.politico.com/newsletters/the-long-game/2022/10/27/the-elusive-esg-00063736. 
  15. Matthews, Jane. "Cost of living has downgraded focus on ESG". FT Adviser. https://www.ftadviser.com/ftadviser-focus/2022/10/20/cost-of-living-has-downgraded-focus-on-esg/. 
  16. "Guerra e crisi energetica, perchè la lotta al clima non è più una priorità". Verità&Affari. https://www.veritaeaffari.it/economia/lotta-cambiamento-climatico-non-priorita-24-ottobre-2022/. 
  17. Krukowska, Magdalena. "Oczekujemy więcej odpowiedzialności od firm". Forbes. https://www.forbes.pl/biznes/esg-oczekujemy-wiecej-odpowiedzialnosci-od-firm/vx99362#forbes-no-paylock. 
  18. Wong Pei, Ting. "Singapore residents say ESG issues important, but few act on it: survey". The Business Times. https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/companies-markets/singapore-residents-say-esg-issues-important-few-act-it-survey. 
  19. D'Angerio, Vitaliano. "Esg dietrofront, la sostenibilità agli italiani interessa sempre meno". Il Sole 24 Ore. https://www.ilsole24ore.com/art/esg-dietrofront-sostenibilita-italiani-interessa-sempre-meno-AEvN38AC?refresh_ce=1. 
  20. Beaini, Adella. "Climate top of Aussies’ concerns, global study finds". The Daily Telegraph. https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/technology/environment/climate-top-of-aussies-concerns-global-study-finds/news-story/33a9d325aac9cec0cc0b4f338e5661bd. 

External links