黑洞社区

The former Carillion chief executive blasted by MPs yesterday for his role in the firm鈥檚 collapse has been in touch with the boss of a London management reputation firm, 黑洞社区 can reveal.

A 100-page report into Carillion鈥檚 implosion laid the blame for the firm going bust at the door of the firm鈥檚 directors, singling out Richard Howson, chief executive for five years until 2017, for particular blame.

Howson (pictured) was replaced as chief executive after Carillion unveiled an 拢845m writedown last July.

Paul Blanchard, a former Labour councillor in York, said Howson was a personal friend and had 鈥渂een through a lot鈥�.

He added: 鈥淚 have not been hired by Richard, now or at any time in the past. I have not offered him any professional advice and have only ever spoken to him as a friend. He鈥檚 been through a lot and I wish him well.鈥�

Blanchard is managing director of Right Angles, a PR firm based in London鈥檚 Soho, and which describes itself as a 鈥渂outique public relations and reputation management practice鈥�.

Set up last year, its website says Blanchard 鈥渢akes charge of our crisis work鈥� and on his own website Blanchard describes himself as a 鈥淧R consigliere, working exclusively with CEOs and global thought leaders, building and managing their reputation鈥�.

MPs said Howson had demonstrated 鈥渕isguidedly self-assured leadership鈥� and had 鈥渓ittle grasp of the unsustainability of Carillion鈥檚 business model or the basic failings of governance that lay at the root of its problems鈥�.

The report added: 鈥淗e even seemed surprised to have been removed as chief executive following the [July 2017] profit warning.鈥�