NEWS: Tate takes on account director role at Ludgate

Former Times City editor Mike Tate has joined Ludgate Communications in

one of a series of changes at the Ludgate Group.

Tate, who left the Times in 1992 for the Observer, has joined the firm

as an account director. His arrival coincides with that of account

director Valerie Connor, from PR company Haggie Financial, and account

manager Denise Sands, from NatWest Markets.

News of Tate’s appointment comes three weeks after Mick Smith, a former

Observer business editor and managing director of Ludgate’s corporate

division, announced he was leaving the agency, after just six months in

post (PR Week, 25 October).

Tim Trotter, Ludgate Group chief executive, has said he is also seeking

up to three new recruits for the company’s public affairs arm Ludgate

Laud - which has seen several departures recently.

Trotter said one of the newcomers will be at director level, in order to

replace Quentin Browell, Ludgate Laud’s deputy managing director.

Browell is currently working out six months notice prior to moving to

Burson-Marsteller Government and Public Affairs as a director (PR Week,

8 November).

Trotter stressed that Derek Laud would remain as MD of Ludgate Laud,

despite having been selected as prospective parliamentary candidate for

the Tories in Tottenham.