BT steals Morgan for media relations post

Morgan, who is understood to have accepted the job late last week, leaves WS as joint MD of its Strategic Media Group to become BT head of group media relations.

The parties have yet to agree his start date. Morgan has a six-month notice period at WS. He will replace media relations chief Tim Johns, who is stepping down after five years in the post (PRWeek, 20 February) and report to group director of comms Robin Pauley.

On Morgan’s hiring, Johns said: ‘We have no announcement to make,’ but added he would be leaving the company in the ‘early summer’.

Morgan was part of the BBC for more than ten years and led its business coverage of the last general election. He will be expected to manage BT’s anticipated wrangles with Ofcom over broadband competition as well as uphold reputations of senior executives such as chairman Christopher Bland and CEO BenVerwaayen.

WS UK chief Colin Byrne, to whom Morgan reports, said: ‘Peter has accepted the role of head of group media relations for BT, a great job with a great global brand’.

It is understood that SMG’s other joint MD, former Sunday Times political editor Michael Prescott, will act as sole chief of the division. However, Prescott said it was in talks with a number of ‘former and serving broadcast journalists’ to join SMG.

Morgan was on holiday in Australia and unavailable for comment as PRWeek went to press.