Insolvency Service reportedly drops case against ex-Bell Pottinger partners

PR agency Bell Pottinger went bankrupt in 2017 following the so-called South Africa scandal which saw it expelled from the industry’s trade association. The business was accused of fomenting racial tensions to benefit clients the Gupta family, which had close links to former South African president Jacob Zuma.

 
The Public Relations and Communications Association described the company’s conduct was unethical and unprofessional, and had brought the industry into disrepute.  

In 2020, the Insolvency Service launched a case against the three executives with all three having subsequently gone on to undertake work in the communication abandoned.

According to Sky News, the Insolvency Service has now dropped its case against the trio. Henderson told the outlet: “I am pleased and relieved that almost five years on I can now put this sad situation behind me.” 

Geoghegan and Lambert, meanwhile, said: “We are pleased that, after many years, the case has been dropped. It was always obviously and fundamentally flawed.”