| Timothy Bell, Baron Bell | |
|---|---|
| Born | 18 October 1941 |
| Nationality | British |
| Other names | Timothy John Leigh Bell, Baron Bell |
| Occupation | Advertising and public relations executive |
| Known for | Campaign work for Margaret Thatcher[1] |
Timothy John Leigh Bell, Baron Bell (born 18 October 1941) is a British advertising and public relations executive, best known for his advisory role in Margaret Thatcher's three successful general election campaigns.
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Timothy John Leigh Bell was born to Greata Mary Findlay and Arthur Leigh Bell on 18 October 1941.[2] He was educated at Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Barnet. He worked in various advertising/PR firms in the late 60s including the hip London agency Geers Gross, before helping to found and becoming Managing Director of Saatchi and Saatchi in 1970, later serving as Chairman and Managing Director of Saatchi and Saatchi Compton from 1975. He left to start his own agency, Lowe Bell Communications, in 1987, and became Chairman of Chime Communications in 1994 (which includes the Bell Pottinger Group).
While at Saatchi and Saatchi and later his own agency, Bell was instrumental in the Conservative general election campaign victories of Margaret Thatcher. In her first 1979 victory, he advised the future Prime Minister on interview techniques, clothing, and even hairstyle choices. He also courted newspaper editors and worked on devastating attacks on the Labour Party.
In 1984 Bell was seconded to the National Coal Board to advise on media strategy at the start of the miners' strike. He worked on media relations and helped set the terms of the negotiations and course of government policy.
Bell was knighted in 1990 by Margaret Thatcher and made a Life Peer by Tony Blair as Baron Bell of Belgravia in 1998. He is now often seen on panels and current affairs programmes discussing the issues of the day, and is Chairman of the Conservative Party's Keep the £ Campaign. He has also served on various arts and public administration bodies.
Bell was convicted for indecency, masturbating at his bathroom window in sight of passers-by.[3][4][5][6]
Tim Bell has recently been an advisor to the Iraqi government on the "promotion of democracy".
Lord Bell, a friend of Russian tycoon Boris Berezovsky, handled the media attention behind poisoned Russian ex-spy Alexander Litvinenko, who died in hospital 23 November 2006. The Bell Pottinger Communications agency distributed a photograph showing a hairless Litvinenko in his hospital bed. The PR Agency also offered advice to relatives of Litvinenko and his spokesman Alex Goldfarb.[7]
In December 2006 Lord Bell successfully lobbied on behalf of the Saudi government to discontinue the Serious Fraud Office investigation into alleged bribes in the Al Yamamah arms deal.[8]
Lord Bell has also performed public relations work for the authoritarian government of Belarus,[9] and for the Pinochet Foundation (Fundación Pinochet).