Bell Pottinger has further strengthened its senior team with the appointment of Peter Roberts as the Group’s new Head of Issues and Crisis Management.
A senior communications figure with over 15 years' experience, Peter Roberts has worked with a range of blue-chip clients and successfully handled a wide range of crisis situations including major corporate restructures, data losses, television exposes, insolvencies, employee welfare problems and health scares. He is also a well-respected and deeply experienced media trainer, coaching senior teams across all sectors.
He arrives from Hill & Knowlton, whom he joined in 2008 as a Senior Associate Director of its Issues and Crisis Management Practice. Roberts was previously Head of Communications for BBC News, playing a lead role in response to some of the biggest PR issues to have faced the corporation in recent years, including the kidnapping of news correspondent, Alan Johnston and the whole Hutton affair.
Commenting on the appointment, David Wilson, Group Managing Director at Bell Pottinger, says: "Peter brings a wealth of experience, specifically of the broadcast media industry that can have such a dramatic impact on reputations. Dealing effectively with the audio-visual challenge can be the difference between communications success and failure. Peter has a proven record of helping clients navigate their way through challenging issues and crisis situations. He will be a great asset for Bell Pottinger and an expert leader of our Issues & Crisis Management practice."
Peter Roberts added: "Bell Pottinger offers me a tremendous opportunity. The Group has an enviable roster of clients and employs many hugely talented individuals. I look forward to bolstering their issues and crisis credentials."
Peter is the latest senior recruit to join Bell Pottinger in recent weeks - following on from the arrival of new Group Director Mark Choueke, who was previously Editor of Marketing Week and Claire Southeard, who became Bell Pottinger's new Director of Multimedia Content, to drive further broadcast activity across its public relations business. Claire was previously Managing Director for TNR Communications.
Bell Pottinger also announced a rebranding of its consumer public relations business recently, with Jane Fearnley and Sarah Street promoted to lead Bell Pottinger Consumer and drive greater integration with its other group companies.
ENDS
For more information please call David Wilson at Bell Pottinger Group on: 020 7861 3800.
