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The unit will be helmed by Hanover’s most experienced media operators, including senior advisor Ian Walker, the former executive editor of MailOnline, Paddy Hennessy, who ran communications for Sadiq Khan during his first two mayoral terms, former Downing Street Deputy Press Secretary Stephanie Lis and former Sunday Times political editor Michael Prescott.
They will be supported by a broader team from the agency, including social media, content and podcast specialists. The unit will report to Gary Cleland, also a former journalist, who leads Hanover’s corporate and digital practices, with support from a former Telegraph news editor, Hugh Morris.
Cleland said: “Media is fragmented. Executives need to be able to get their message across in an interview with a journalist. But they also need to understand how to react at speed when an issue breaks on social media. They need to know how their internal communications are likely to play out externally. And increasingly they need to be confident and composed in a long-form, podcast environment.
“Comms teams need to know how to use executive engagement as the starting point for a wider suite of content that they can issue over all their available channels. This Hanover team is designed to provide training based on experience at the very highest levels of business, politics, campaigning and media to help our clients prepare their executives, but also to shape their wider strategy.”
Walker said: “For decades I have interviewed, reported on and edited Prime Ministers, CEOs and celebrities. First for newspapers, then for online operations and finally for completely integrated media across online, social and podcasts. I’ve seen what works and what doesn’t – and am looking forward to bringing that experience to the benefit of our clients.”
Hennessy said: “CEOs need to think like campaigners and use communications to help achieve the optimal environment for their business goals. Our job is to help serious businesspeople become effective, strategic communicators.”
