Francis Ingham responds to criticism over the PRCA’s handling of Bell Pottinger’s expulsion

In a not unexpected move, the The Public Relations and Communications Association (PRCA) announced last week that it had imposed its most serious sanction on Bell Pottinger, following its investigation into Bell Pottinger’s work for Oakbay Capital in South Africa. The investigation followed a complaint from South Africa’s Democratic Alliance.

Bell Pottinger will not be eligible to reapply for corporate membership of the PRCA for a minimum period of five years. On the face of it, the PRCA had little choice but to expel Bell Pottinger; if they had not, its own credibility would have been on the line.

But the PRCA has been criticised over its handling over a number of issues resulting from Bell Pott Gate and here Francis Ingham covers these.

We discuss:

• Whether the PRCA feels guilty about the impact of the PRCA’s decision to expel Bell Pottinger on the large number of potentially innocent staff, who this week, could be concerned about their jobs.

• Bearing in mind that the PRCA is not a regulatory body, and has approximately 20,000 members in an industry of about 80,000 professionals, by making a push for regulation is the PRCA trying to be something it is not?

• Whether Francis Ingham regrets that the PRCA sent a promotional email which used the Bell Pottinger scandal to promote the benefits its membership offer.

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