Hewitt press secretary Hazarika quits to join EMI

Reporting to chairman Eric Nicoli, Hazarika will advise on government affairs, investor relations and communications.

It is not currently known what will happen to her post as senior press officer at the DTI, which now stands vacant.

‘My new role as business co-ordinator will broaden my experience which is based mostly on media relations,’ said Hazarika.

‘It is not a press job but that of a special adviser to the chairman across a broad range of issues.

‘Big issues facing the industry at the moment are illegal downloads and bootleg DVDs which are having a knock-on effect on the industry,’ she added.

Hazarika kicked off her time in government comms as a graduate trainee at the then Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, before joining the Home Office press office where she dealt with the report into teenager Stephen Lawrence’s death.

She then joined the press team at Downing Street before joining the DTI as senior press officer, and press secretary to Hewitt in 2000.

According to Hazarika, current issues facing the DTI include retaining Britain’s productivity, tackling the fierce global markets and protecting business rights.