DIARY: Joll finds himself a new Focus in investor relations

Christopher Joll, former managing director of The Communication Group’s

financial and corporate division, has resurfaced at Focus Communications

to head its investor relations operation.

Joll, who joined Focus this week, left The Communication Group along

with the division’s deputy chairman Maurice Barnfather after just eight

months in the job (PR Week, 14 June). Both sides declined to comment on

the split.

At Focus, Joll leads a nine-strong IR team with responsibility for new

business and managing existing clients. He reports to director Jonathan

Gillan. Fellow director Rupert Ashe said that Joll would concentrate in

particular on drawing in smaller and medium-sized companies preparing

for flotation, especially those in the telecommunications and energy

sectors.

‘The reason we were pleased to persuade Christopher over to us is that

he has a long track record of investor relations for big companies,’

said Ashe.

Joll said that he had been in contact with Focus for more than a year

but only entered serious discussions about joining the agency following

the split with The Communication Group. His own company, Christopher

Joll Consulting, will be bought by Focus over the next three years.