Luther Pendragon

{{Short description|London-based public relations and communications agency}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2024}}{{Infobox company

| name = Luther Pendragon Limited

| logo = Luther Pendragon logo.png

| logo_size = 230px

| foundation = {{start date and age|1991|08|01|df=yes|br=yes}} in London, England{{Cite web |date=1991-08-01 |title=Incorporation |url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/02634095/filing-history/MTU1MDAxNDgzYWRpcXprY3g/document?format=pdf&download=0 |access-date=2024-10-21 |website=Companies House}}

| type = Subsidiary

| location = London, United Kingdom

| locations = {{ubl|London|Brussels|United States}}

| key_people = Simon Whale (Managing Director)

| industry = Communications

| services = Public relations

| revenue =

| operating_income =

| net_income =

| aum =

| assets =

| equity =

| owner =

| num_employees =

| parent =

| subsid =

| homepage = {{URL|https://luther.co.uk}}

}}

Luther Pendragon Limited{{Cite web |date=1991-08-01 |title=Luther Pendragon Limited overview - Find and update company information - Gov.uk |url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/02634095 |access-date=2024-10-21 |website=Companies House |language=en}} is a London and New York-based public relations and communications agency.

History

Founded in 1992 by media journalist George Pitcher and television journalist Charles Stewart-Smith,{{cite web|url=http://www.prweek.com/uk/news/1139190/luther-pendragon-co-founder-takes-blue-rubicon-directorship/|title=Luther Pendragon co-founder takes Blue Rubicon directorship|author=Hannah Crown|publisher=prweek.com|date=2 July 2012|accessdate=2012-08-08}} and so named due to Pitcher's interest in Arthurian legends,{{cite news|last1=Hall|first1=Ian|title=Profile: George Pitcher, Luther Pendragon|url=http://www.prweek.com/article/159885/profile-george-pitcher-luther-pendragon---pendragons-pitcher-turns-spin-its-head|accessdate=26 April 2017|publisher=PR Week|date=4 October 2002}} the firm grew through the 1990s off the back of major and often controversial clients such as British Gas, Kimberly Clark, Holocaust Memorial Day and the Hinduja family. The company handles all media inquiries for the London and Winchester dioceses of the Church of England.{{cite web|title=Media Support|url=https://www.london.anglican.org/kb/media-support/|website=Diocese of London|accessdate=26 April 2017}}{{cite web|title=Communications|url=http://www.winchester.anglican.org/about-us/diocesan-team/communications/|website=Diocese of Winchester|accessdate=26 April 2017}} Luther Pendragon lays claim to having developed the professional practice of issues management, but this is disputed in the PR industry.

In 2004 ex-civil servant Mike Granatt joined the consultancy.{{cite news|url=http://www.prweek.com/uk/news/search/195454//|title=PROFILE: Mike Granatt, Luther Pendragon - Strategic player who will say No, Minister|last=Lepper|first=Joe|date=14 November 2003|work=PR Week|accessdate=16 February 2010}}{{cite web|url=http://www.luther.co.uk/who_we_are/Mike_Granatt.html |title=Who we are - Mike Granatt |work=Luther Pendragon |accessdate=16 February 2010 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100122211311/http://www.luther.co.uk/who_we_are/Mike_Granatt.html |archivedate=22 January 2010 }} His clients included the Speaker of the House of Commons Michael Martin, a position from which Granatt resigned in February 2008, saying he had been misled over a scandal involving the Speaker's expenses.{{cite news|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article3423611.ece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090521145515/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article3423611.ece|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 21, 2009|title=Top aide Mike Granatt quits over Speaker Michael Martin's expenses|last=Oliver|first=Jonathan|date=24 February 2008|work=The Sunday Times|accessdate=16 February 2010}} One of his clients in 2007 was the BBC Trust.{{cite news|url=http://www.campaignlive.co.uk/news/593155/BBCs-new-governors-set-use-Luther-Pendragon/|title=BBC's new governors set to use Luther Pendragon|last=Black|first=Alex|date=21 September 2006|work=PR Week|accessdate=16 February 2010}}

In 2005, the firm was subject to a management buy-out, said to be worth £11 million by the trade magazine PR Week. Current clients include Reuben Brothers.{{cite web|url=http://www.reubenbrothers.com/Advisors.aspx|title=Advisors|publisher=Reuben Brothers|accessdate=2012-08-08}}