PR firm cuts ties to affiliate

Reports of Thaksin link prompt split

Public relations firm Spindler&Associates (S&A) announced yesterday that it had ended its affiliate relationship with Edelman PR after it discovered the company had been hired by ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. The announcement was issued after newspaper reports said that Edelman had business links with a number of companies around the world, including S&A. The Thailand-based company is run by Chaiyan Setpaisan and his business partner Julian Spindler.

Mr Spindler is married to the deputy secretary-general to the prime minister, Kanchana Spindler.

Mr Chaiyan, S&A managing director, said the company would never work against the interests of the government.

As a result, it had decided to immediately end its affiliation with Edelman.

Mr Chaiyan insisted that Mrs Spindler, a former senior staff member of the Bangkok Post, has taken no active role in S&A's affairs.

Bangkok Post
Sunday January 28, 2007