Chamberlain goes to WAR!

The Eastern Region’s leading communications agency Ware Anthony Rust Ltd (WAR) has acquired 100% of the share capital of The Chamberlain Partnership Ltd.

Established in 1987 Chamberlain is a pr and communications agency, run jointly by Denis Chamberlain, Anne Chamberlain and Geoff Dodgson, specialising in the agriculture, environment, food chain fisheries and seafood industries.

All three directors will remain within the business and, with the existing team, will continue to be based in Peterborough, but the newly combined agency aims to bring together both teams in one new venue in the Cambridge area in the near future.

Alison Meadows, managing director of WAR, said: "Acquiring a complementary business like Chamberlain with such a strong reputation in the sectors in which it operates is an exciting opportunity for us all. We will be able to offer Chamberlain clients additional services such as in-house design, digital and advertising while at the same time developing further conversations with WAR's existing clients, particularly in healthcare, using the skills and expertise of the Chamberlain team."

"The combined forces of more than 60 staff and the resulting enlarged expertise across consumer, b2b, healthcare, agriculture and environment greatly enhance WAR's position as the leading communications agency in the Eastern Region, also consolidating our place in the top ten agencies based outside of London.”

Denis Chamberlain commented: "We're delighted to become part of an established, multi-disciplined communications agency with such a strong standing in the region and such clear ambitions to make an impact on the national stage. This will allow us to develop our offering further as well as deepening the relationships we already have with our clients."

To capitalise on its existing reputation, Chamberlain will continue to operate under its own name, with associated WAR branding.

WAR was advised in the acquisition by Adam Bradley of Taylor Vinters, Mike Jennings and Martin Church at Lloyds TSB and PEM’s Tony Stairs. Chamberlain’s advisers included Geoff Harrod of Roythorne & Co, David Webb and Simon Mason of Bulley Davey and Peter Watson of Prism Corporate Broking.

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For further information please contact: Kerris Macauley / Natalie Yates / Zoisa Buczacki on 01223 566212 or email format firstname.lastname@war.uk.com

Note to newsdesk:

WAR provides a seamless communications service for a host of clients in B2C, B2B and healthcare sectors, bringing together talented and creative individuals with specific expertise in their own fields.

The agency disciplines of advertising, design, public relations, interactive and direct marketing are blended to give clients holistic, strategic and creative campaigns, or offered independently to suit client needs.

WAR works with international and national companies based across the UK and overseas including: Multiyork, BACS (Direct Debit), Van Dal, Acushnet (Titleist, FootJoy and Cobra), Johnson & Johnson, Huntsman (Araldite), Corgi International, Sekonda, Plasti-kote, Linx Printing Technologies, Visa Europe, Zapf Creation, Stream Foods, Insinkerator, Xaar, Virbac Animal Health and Cambridgeshire Horizons.

Chamberlain is the leading national PR, Public Affairs and issue management company specialising in agriculture, the food chain, the environment and seafood & fisheries.

The 16-strong, experienced Chamberlain team’s reputation is built on industry knowledge and an exceptional network of media and sector contacts. Its 30 plus clients include: Agricultural Industries Confederation, Arla Foods, English Beef and Lamb Executive (EBLEX), HGCA, Grain and Feed Trade Association (GAFTA), International Fishmeal and Fish Oil Organisation (IFFO), Lloyds TSB Agriculture, Sea Fish Industry Authority, and the Waste Resources Action Programme (WRAP) as well as Regional Development Agencies and other leading food chain companies and organisations.

Chamberlain was founded in 1987 by its owner-directors: Denis Chamberlain MBE, FRAgS, FGAJ - currently Chairman of the Government’s Fresh Start Initiative and former Editor of Farmers Weekly; Anne Chamberlain FRAgS who has developed Chamberlain’s fisheries and seafood business and is a former Business Editor of Farmers Weekly; and Geoff Dodgson ARAgS - a specialist in technology transfer, hon. press officer to the Oxford Farming Conference 1995 to 2007 and former Arable Editor of Farmers Weekly.