Chime PLC and LNS Communications Expand Into U.S. Consumer & Public Affairs Arena With Bell Pottinger USA Office Headquartered in Boston, MA.

Business Editors

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 2, 2004

U.K.'s Leading Independent Communications Group

and Top Boston-Area Technology PR Practice Recruits

Marlin Collingwood From Mullen as Managing Director for Venture

Chime PLC, the U.K.'s largest independent communications group and LNS Communications, Chime's U.S. subsidiary specializing in technology public relations, announced today an expansion into the U.S. Consumer Public Relations and Public Affairs arena with the opening of the Cambridge office of Bell Pottinger USA.

Bell Pottinger is a full-service public relations and public affairs agency that is part of the Chime PLC Public Relations Division. Bell Pottinger U.K. clients include Emirates Airlines, British Gas, McDonald's U.K., BAE Systems, HSBC Holdings, Sun Microsystems and Vauxhall Motors Ltc (division of General Motors).

"Chime has had a strong U.S. presence on the high-tech front with LNS Communications since 2000," said Nick Taylor, Commercial Director for Chime Communications. "With the opening of the Bell Pottinger USA office, we are positioned to expand our U.S. capabilities into the consumer public relations and public affairs market. We're anxious to deliver for clients in the U.S. the same expertise and results we've delivered to our European clients for years. We will be able to offer expanded U.S. capabilities to our broad-base of U.K. and European clients, as well as public affairs services to the LNS technology client base."

The company has recruited public relations veteran Marlin Collingwood as Managing Director for the new U.S. office.

Collingwood most recently served as Senior Vice President/Director of Public Relations at the Pittsburgh office of Mullen. While at Mullen his clients included The Pennsylvania Office of Travel & Tourism, The Federal Emergency Management Agency, Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, Whirlpool Corporation and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

Collingwood has broad experience in both consumer public relations and public affairs. His previous work included stints at Howard Rubenstein Public Relations in NYC and Bonner & Associates a Washington, D.C.-based grassroots lobbying firm. He started his career working for the late U.S. Senator H. John Heinz (R-PA) and for the 1984 Reagan-Bush reelection campaign.

"Bell Pottinger has a reputation for producing great results for great clients around the world," said Collingwood. "I'm excited and anxious to introduce the Bell Pottinger brand, work ethic and results to U.S. clients in both the consumer and public affairs arenas."

The new Bell Pottinger office will be located within LNS Communications, Inc. the Cambridge-based technology public relations firms purchased by Chime in 2000.

Bell Pottinger Communications is the public relations arm of Chime Communications, the UK's leading communications company. The company consists of a number of market leading names in the public relations industry including Bell Pottinger Financial, Bell Pottinger Public Affairs and QBO Bell Pottinger Public Relations the company was formed by Lord Bell in the late 80's.

Tim Bell is one of the best known figures in the UK communications industry. He helped found Saatchi and Saatchi in 1970 and as International Chairman, he took it into its position as the first British number one worldwide advertising agency. He successfully ran the publicity campaigns for the Conservative Party for the General Elections in 1979, 1983 and 1987. He advises the Chairmen of many of Britain's leading companies and organisations, as well as foreign heads of state and international business leaders and politicians. He was awarded a knighthood in 1990 by Lady Thatcher and a peerage by Tony Blair.

Chime Communications plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange. In addition to Bell Pottinger Chime has two further divisions, AMD, a leading marketing services business, and OLR, a market leading research business.