Experienced public affairs professionals Naresh Raghubeer and Kevin Bosch are joining with defense industry expert, Doug Thomas, to form the Sandstone Group, a new firm in Ottawa focused on providing strategic advice on government relations, issues management, procurement, crisis communications, legislative affairs and public policy to CEOs and decision makers in a wide range of sectors.
Naresh Raghubeer
Doug Thomas
Kevin Bosch
“If you are having difficulties on your current contracts or if you need help ensuring that government leaders understand your value proposition and support you and the jobs you are creating for Canadians, call Sandstone Group. We love solving problems, especially difficult ones,” added Bosch. “We are your special forces to help get the results you
want.”
Raghubeer is an industry leader in defence procurement having served many years as an executive in the shipbuilding industry and previously supporting the National Security and Defence Committee in the Senate of Canada. He is currently a Director to the Board of the Conference of Defence Associations Institute, Canada’s premier defence and national security association. He has been a strategic advisor to clients in the public policy and energy sectors and worked at the provincial government level in Ontario.
After a 25-year career working with elected officials on Parliament Hill and in Alberta, Bosch became a public affairs advisor and developed a strong track record for assisting clients in many different industries including technology, health, finance, environment, infrastructure, manufacturing, energy, defence, transportation and telecommunications. He will remain as an associate at Hill + Knowlton Strategies where he will continue to assist existing clients and engage in new partnerships in the future.
Doug Thomas joins Sandstone Group as a Senior Associate after a distinguished 28-year career as the National Director for the Navy League of Canada.
“Sandstone Group represents the perfect confluence of both political and industry experience which is poised to deliver results for our clients. To this end, I genuinely look forward to adding my background as strategist and champion for the Royal Canadian Navy, our cadets and women and men of the Canadian Armed Forces, many of whom I got to know during time with the Navy League of Canada,” said Thomas.
Both Bosch and Raghubeer were included on the Hill Times 2021 list of the Top 100 Lobbyists.
“Results matter. Many chief executives and decision makers know that with the right application of effort, they could achieve success. Sandstone Group looks forward to working towards helping our clients succeed, even on the most difficult of files,” said Raghubeer.
According to Bosch: “Many years in politics and in private industry have proven to me that a determined, respectful and informed approach can find a pathway that addresses both the clients’ needs and the interests of government. I am excited to help build the Sandstone Group around this action-oriented philosophy.”
SANDSTONE SERVICES
Government Relations Advisors to CEOs and Executives
At Sandstone Group, we believe effective government relations will not only help you engage with the right stakeholders and influencers, it will help you proactively identify opportunities and address challenges.
Procurement in the National Security and Defence Sector
Companies often wonder why they need strong government relations in procurement. The answer is simple. In all aspects of procurement, you need to engage with the decision makers, tell your story and ensure that you are well positioned to succeed.
Communications and Media Relations
Sandstone Group has strong proven capabilities in communication and media relations. We will support you in communicating your message to the right party and in the right manner.
Stakeholder Management
While your principal client is your number one stakeholder, there are many other relationships you must cultivate and manage including but not limited to (investors to provincial and federal governments, community associations and local relationships).
Branding Development
Sandstone Group is capable of helping you develop your brand and tell your story, the one you want and need to be told, to the right audience.
Partnerships
Sandstone Group supports international companies seeking to engage the Canadian government and Canadian companies.
WHY YOU NEED SANDSTONE GROUP
According to the team at Sandstone Group, too often defence and national security-oriented companies do not understand how an effective, well informed and results oriented firm like Sandstone Group could help.
“As an executive, you know how important it is that your audience (client, government, media or team) understands your issues and needs, and can relate positively to you and your company. We are specialists in just that,” said Bosch.
Sandstone Group has an excellent background in government relations and in providing winning advice to executives so that they are able to communicate clearly and effectively to audiences who are unique, high profile and often under time constraints.
We know that when dealing with government, the media or stakeholders, believing you have the best product, value proposition or case for support is often not enough.
The right engagement could ensure your voice is heard during the consideration phase for contracts or even after the draft Request for Information or draft Request for Proposal has been issued. Moreover, Sandstone can help you tell your story to the decision makers and to Canadians.
We are here to support executives across all domains, helping them gain a better understanding of the audience they are dealing with, especially the influential players in government, procurement opportunities, and how to win.
We are here to help you craft the pursuit and succeed in the capture.
