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CHELGATE SIGNS UP FORMER WHITE HOUSE STAFFER
06 July 2001

Reputation management specialist Chelgate Limited has announced the appointment of former Bush aide John Grimley as senior counselor at its London headquarters.

Grimley's prime remit will be to deliver Chelgate's range of government and market intelligence, advisory and promotional services to US companies aiming to penetrate the EU market or expand operations there.

According to Chelgate's chairman and CEO, Terence Fane-Saunders, Grimley will significantly strengthen Chelgate's growing practice of assisting American companies in tackling EU and UK regulatory challenges.

"We have developed a strong European public affairs service and John's experience of both American and European government and politics renders him uniquely equipped to deliver this to US clients, many of whom are seeking tailor made European government relations and market solutions," Fane-Saunders said.

Prior to joining Chelgate, Grimley was campaign director for London-based New Europe, the pro-EU anti-euro campaign chaired by David Owen, former British Foreign Secretary and EU negotiator for the former Yugoslavia.

Previously he served as a writer in George Bush senior's White House team, and gained extensive communications and legislative experience while working in the United States Congress and the California Legislature.

His campaign experience includes work on the US presidential campaigns of George Bush in 1992 and Bob Dole in 1996, as well as the most recent California Governor's race in 1998. He also advised the George W. Bush Presidential Exploratory Committee prior to the 2000 presidential election. His private clients have included major international corporations and organisations.

Grimley has extensive experience in government service, political campaigning and private sector public affairs, where he developed expertise in grassroots opinion forming and coalition building, media relations, corporate communications and legislative advocacy.

A native Californian and a dual US and British citizen, John is an American lawyer trained in the legal and political structure of the European Union at Sciences Po in Paris.

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