An American political and strategic communications strategist will tomorrow speak on the topic of crisis management and how companies should handle accusations of wrongdoing.

Harry Clark of the Stanwich Group has provided public policy, political and strategic communications advice to companies, trade associations and political leader for the past 25 years.

His speech to the Bermuda International Business Association comes at a time when the insurance industry has landed at the centre of the same kind of controversy that has recently engulfed accounting, mutual funds, and securities research.

The probe spearheaded by New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer has prompted international media and regulators to cast their eyes on Bermuda as well as a number of the insurance companies based here into the headlines.

BIBA CEO Deborah Middleton said that BIBA?s goal is to bring in experts who can speak on issues directly affecting the business community so Mr. Clark was a perfect choice.

?Not only does he advise companies in crisis but he also advises how entire industries deal with challenges. As the association which promotes Bermuda overseas, we appreciate how important reputation management is and we look forward to his insight,? she said.

Mr. Clark is no stranger to such crises having helped develop strategies to successfully manage complex public policy issues, strategic transactions or organisation-threatening crises for a number of well-known entities including Worldcom/MCI, Freddie Mac, Arthur Anderson and Co. and Bristol Meyers Squibb.

Tomorrow?s speech will focus on how a company facing accusations of wrongdoing ? even if those accusations are groundless ? must be prepared to deal with 24-hour networks, the financial media, legislative committees, industry watchdogs and the Internet.

He will also explain how to be prepared to deal with a combined legal/political/communications/marketing crisis.

Mr. Clark said: ?One can deal with a serious multi-front crisis. But it depends on how quickly one is able to emerge from these phoney war stages and put in place a strategy that can actually address the problem.? In the 1980?s, Mr. Clark was an executive Young & Rubicam and Bozell and served as worldwide advertising group director for Merrill Lynch & Co. He currently serves on the board of directors of the United States Chamber of Commerce as well as on several executive committees including the Partnership for a Drug Free America.

His political experience includes advising Tennessee Senator Bill Brock and New York Congressman Jack Kemp and serving as a television consultant to the Executive Office of the President during the Reagan Administration and in 2002-2003.

The business forum at the Fairmont Hamilton Princess tomorrow is free for members and $25 for non-members.