Lib Dems lure WWF man as Tories reshape team

Ravi Chandiramani, PR Week UK, Thursday, 08 December 2005, 12:00am,

The Liberal Democrats have poached WWF's top lobbyist David Norman as director of policy and communications.

He joins in February to combat an anticipated Tory resurgence under David Cameron and revive the Lib Dems' credentials as the 'real opposition'.

As head of public affairs at WWF, Norman has been a vociferous critic of proposals to invest in nuclear power and an advocate of renewable energy, in line with Lib Dem policy. Before WWF he led public affairs at Save The Children and Action Aid.

Norman will oversee a media team headed by press chief Mark Littlewood, plus a policy and research unit, led from the new year by Charles Kennedy's speechwriter Greg Simpson. Norman will also work closely with Kennedy's personal director of comms Jackie Rowley.

'Norman impressed leading party figures,' said party CEO Lord Rennard, to whom he reports. Sandy Walkington, now at Transport for London, held a similar job for the 2005 election.

David Cameron has hired George Eustice as his press secretary after becoming the first political party leader with a PR career under his belt, writes David Quainton.

Eustice ran Cameron's press office up to this week's victory.

But the party is believed to be hunting an Alastair Campbell-style figure. Longer term, former ad exec Steve Hilton is tipped for the post. Cameron was formerly comms chief at Carlton TV.