Michael Cole (public relations)
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Michael Dexter Cole (born 1943) is an English public relations advisor, former broadcasting journalist and media personality.
Life and career
Journalism
Cole qualified as a journalist and spent 27 years as a reporter, initially for Anglia Television, later he was with the BBC, with whom he won two Royal Television Society 'Best Home News Story' awards. By the end of his employment by the corporation he was its Royal correspondent; he left the BBC following his disclosure of the contents of Queen Elizabeth II's Christmas 1987 broadcast.[1]
Work with Mohamed Al-Fayed
Cole joined Harrods and the House of Fraser group in 1988 and became Director of Public Affairs as well as holding a seat on the main board of the holding company and directorships of several subsidiaries.[1] Cole became known as the spokesman for Mohamed Al-Fayed during the 1990s, in particular during Fayed's long-running court case with Tiny Rowland[2] and the 'Cash-for-questions affair'.[3] Cole also responded to the media on behalf of Al-Fayed after the deaths of Diana, Princess of Wales and his son Dodi Fayed. Cole has since claimed that the couple had become engaged before their deaths.[4]
Subsequent work
Cole left Harrods in February 1998[5] to set up his own PR firm, Michael Cole & Company Limited,[1] although his connection to Al-Fayed did not end. Cole also presented his own tabloid talk show, The Michael Cole Show, on Living TV[1] and has appeared as a guest on Have I Got News For You. Although no longer directly employed by Mohammed Al-Fayed, Cole has continued to act as a spokesman on his behalf, including during his legal battles over the deaths of the Princess of Wales and his son.[6]
Away from his business interests, Cole is a supporter of Fulham F.C., a club formerly owned by Mohamed Al-Fayed.[7]
References
- ^ a b c d Michael Cole's Homepage
- ^ Rowland issues writs against Al Fayed from bbc.co.uk
- ^ Bell gives Hamilton helping hand in cash-for-questions row from bbc.co.uk
- ^ "Diana and Dodi 'were engaged'", BBC News, 10 January 2008
- ^ Steve Boggan "Conspiracies abound as Cole quits `toughest job in PR '", The Independent, 21 February 1998
- ^ AL FAYED: I STILL THINK DIANA WAS MURDERED form Daily Express
- ^ Nigel Pankhurst "Detailed evidence for Diana inquest", BBC News, 10 January 2008