Public Affairs: The Week in Lobbying

PR Week UK, Friday, 20 May 2011, 12:00am,

Goddard Partners Global, the US public affairs agency, is to launch a London office - its first outside the US.

The agency, founded by Ben Goddard, already has offices in Washington DC and Los Angeles. The UK leaders will be managing partner Ali Mirza and UK partner Christopher Dougan.

Jack Straw, the Labour MP and former home secretary, has become a consultant for ED & F Man Holdings, a global provider of commodities, logistics and financial services.

Heathcroft Communications has signed up Michelle Di Leo, director of recently wound-up pro-aviation coalition Flying Matters. Di Leo is heading a new campaigns practice at the agency, run by Craig Leviton.

MasterCard has recruited its first head of public affairs for the UK and Ireland. James Harborne formerly led Nationwide's policy and public affairs team.

Huawei Technologies' UK business has named Philip Candice as public affairs manager. Previously, he was international relations manager at Ofcom.

Network Rail has reappointed MHP Communications following a competitive pitch. The rail operator has used MHP, previously Mandate Communications, on a retained basis since 2007.