Sir Timothy Bell, Baron Bell (b. 18 October 1941) is a prominent advertising and public relations executive and British Conservative politician.

Bell worked in various advertising and PR companies before helping to found and becoming Managing Director of Saatchi and Saatchi in 1970, then Chairman and Managing Director of Saatchi and Saatchi Compton in 1975. He led it to be the premier agency in the world. In 1985 he left to set up his own agency. He set up Lowe Bell Communications in 1987 and became Chairman of Chime Communications in 1994, which includes Bell Pottinger.

Both at Saatchi and Saatchi and with his own agency, Bell has been instrumental in Conservative election campaigns, including all the successful campaigns of Margaret Thatcher. In her first 1979 victory, he coached her on interview technique and even advised on clothing and hairstyle choices. He courted newspaper editors and worked on devastating attacks on the Labour Party. He is seen as one of the first of the modern breed of 'spin doctors' and founder of the modern PR industry.

In 1984 Bell was seconded to the National Coal Board to advise on media strategy at the start of the miners' strike. He did not just work on media relations, however: he also helped set the terms of the negotiations and course of government policy, sensing their strong hand with the public.

Bell was knighted in 1990 and was made a life peer as Baron Bell, of Belgravia in the City of Westminster in 1998. He is often seen on panels and current affairs programmes giving the Conservative view and is Chairman of the Conservative Party's Keep the £ Campaign. He has also served on various arts and public administration bodies.

Tim Bell most recently advised the Iraqi authorities on the promotion of democracy.

Books

• Mark Hollingsworth, The Ultimate spin doctor: the life and fast times of Tim Bell, 1997.

External links

• "How to sell democracy to Iraqis: bring in Lord Bell", The Independent, March 13, 2004.