Terence Fane-Saunders

Spear’s Review

Clients have long turned to Chelgate when ‘they have lost control of their own narrative’, whether because of a specific event or even due to a campaign by hostile actors. ‘Our job is to put clients back in command,’ says Terence Fane-Saunders, founder and executive chairman.

The firm operates in the sensitive areas of reputation protection and crisis management, and is proudly discreet. Clients include HNWs and their families, governments, NGOs, corporations and political movements. The firm is able to activate intelligence-backed advocacy and counter cyber-warfare techniques.

Fane-Saunders once told Spear’s: ‘So many PR people see themselves as being in the communications business. It’s a bit like saying surgeons are in the scalpel business. Communications are a tool we use, and must use with great skill and expertise.’

Adviser Profile

Terence Fane-Saunders is regarded as one of the recognised global leaders of the public relations profession. A specialist in transnational communications and public relations, he has managed a wealth of global and international programmes for governments, multinational companies and distinguished, high-profile individuals. A renowned expert in issues management and reputation protection, he has worked with numerous high-profile domestic and international clients to contain some of the most demanding issues and crises of recent years. 

Before founding Chelgate he was Chairman of one of the three largest PR businesses in the UK – the subsidiary of a leading global PR company – also serving on its International Management Board. Earlier, he had been Executive Vice President of the world’s largest public relations company, managing its international operations. He had previously headed that firm’s business in Asia, during which time he also opened the first foreign public relations business to operate in the People’s Republic of China. 

An Honours graduate of Cambridge University, he has written, spoken and broadcast all over the world on different aspects of the public relations profession. 

Chelgate provides an integrated range of public relations services, including media relations, government relations and public affairs, community relations and crisis and issues management. The firm is headquartered in London, with offices in Brussels and Bucharest, and a network of associates in key locations around the globe. It also works closely with experts across a range of complementary fields, including Law, Finance, Diplomacy, Intelligence and Opinion Research, to help clients manage critical relationships and protect and promote the truth of their narrative.