Reshuffle sparks comms planning head search at LU

London Underground is on the hunt for a communications planning

manager as part of a PR reshuffle ahead of its partnership with Mayor

Ken Livingstone's Transport for London.

LU director of communications Tony Maguire said the appointment will

complete the team reshuffle, which was sparked off by the departure of

media relations manager Philip Carter last month (PRWeek, 16

February).

Claire Filby, previously LU head of public affairs, has since replaced

Carter taking on the expanded role of head of press and public

affairs.

The newly-created communications planning manager role - which was

previously overseen jointly by Carter, Filby and employee communications

manager Janet Croissant - will handle internal communications

strategies, reporting to Maguire.

LU is currently at the centre of a row over the Government's

part-privatisation plan for the network, which has seen a series of

one-day tube strikes - the latest just this week - over safety

implications of the sell-off.