SEC Newgate

Technically, SEC Newgate is just five years old, dating to September 2019 when Italian firm SEC merged with Porta, the holding company that included international corporate and financial specialist Newgate. But SEC’s roots stretch back to its founding in Italy 30 years ago, while Newgate itself has been around for more than a decade. But the burst of activity that followed the merger, including an acquisition spree that has most recently added firms in the Netherlands and Southeastern Europe. In 2023 and $100m in new investment from Investcorp, has expanded the firm’ global footprint and made it a serious player in international corporate communications and public affairs.

The roots of the UK operation—130 people across offices in London, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Edinburgh, and Manchester—are in the corporate and in financial space, but the firm has evolved over the past few years so that today it can assist clients as they deal with the entire stakeholder ecosystem, from investors to employees to regulators to communities and activists. Planning communications has become a significant part of the business, public affairs is growing, and while digital and consumer practices are comparatively small the firm is on a path to provide full-service capabilities to its clients. Other specialist services range from responsible business (SEC Newgate is a B Corp itself) to crisis communications. The Lab underpins everything with data and analytics and digital expertise.

Given the breadth of its services, it’s no surprise that SEC Newgate found itself handling a wide range of high-profile, high-stakes assignments last year. It was the number 13 firm in the UK in terms of mergers and acquisitions work, according to mergermarket, but many of the highlights came in the political space (securing legislative change to extend the Venture Capital Trust program for another decade); reputation (working the RSPCA through crisis  after accusations of “welfare washing”); and planning (a consultation effort helping Whitestone gain approval for a new solar farm). The firm was also active on the thought leadership front, with a series of election-related political briefings and its National Planning Barometer.

New business efforts brought in an impressive £6 million in fees over the course of the year, with new clients including NRS Healthcare, Back Market, Blue Planet Solar Farm, Indeed, Nat Power, Criterion Capital, Piraeus, Taylor Whimpy, London Property Alliance, and more, joining a roster that includes big names such as Allianz, BNP Paribas, Canary Wharf, Berkely Group, EDF, Google, London Gatwick, Openreach, and the WWF. Half of the firm’s new business in 2024 came from expanding existing clients, and more than three-quarters of revenues now come from clients working with multiple practices.

Helmed by UK chief executive Emma Kane, who also serves as deputy group CEO and head of western EMEA, a strong leadership team includes chairman Mark Glover and COO Nina Dowell. There is a robust leadership development programme, a strong commitment to DEI (14% of team members from Black, Asian and other ethnically diverse communities) and benefits including mental health support.—PH