Google appoints Newsnight editor as comms chief

The BBC man jreplace DJ Collins who recently vacated the role to become Google’s European comms director.

Collins replaced Rachel Whetstone who in turn became Google's V-P of global communications and public affairs.

Whetstone, partner of Conservative Party strategy guru Steve Hilton, will be based at the company's Silicon Valley headquarters - initially on a fixed-term six-month posting.

Barron is expected to start in September and will report to Collins.