Timothy John Leigh Bell (Tim)

From his grandiose office next to the United States Embassy in London Calil ran an unrivalled social network boasting a comprehensive cast of ministers including Lord Mandelson bankers businessmen advertising tycoons and public relations gurus such as Lord Tim Bell...

The UK's largest public relations firm founded by Lord Timothy Bell a former election advisor to the late British Conservative Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher Bell Pottinger has now cut its ties with the controversial Gupta family – which has a close business relationship with South African President Jacob Zuma and his family – after losing two major clients with ties to South Africa because of their concern about its contract with Oakbay Investments the Guptas' holding company (AC Vol 57 No 21 Stalwarts push for Zuma's exit)...

We hear Tim Bell a public relations advisor to British Conservative former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher has been helpful in shaping Zuma's personal strategy...

With the help of his London representative David Gifford (an associate of Margaret Thatcher's image-maker Tim Bell) Babangida wants to sway Western (and Nigerian) opinion in his favour after his role in the 12 June 1993 election cancellation...

A pointer here is the tortuous negotiations between British public relations guru Tim Bell (who remodelled Margaret Thatcher's image) and KANU's Biwott and Ben Sassoon...