LucasVarity revs up corporate PR

Automotive to aerospace group LucasVarity is strengthening its

corporate relations department by bringing in Jon Chandler, the

communications director from its engineering division VarityPerkins.

Chandler, formerly communications manager automotive at Lucas Industries

prior to its merger with Varity, will move back to the merged parent

company next week as group corporate relations manager.

He will report to group director of corporate relations Nicholas Jones

who joined LucasVarity from Reed Elsevier in January (PR Week, 24

January).

Following the merger of the two companies last year, LucasVarity

decentralised its communications function, building up resources in its

seven global business groups including VarityPerkins.

In his new post Chandler will be responsible for a range of corporate

communication and public affairs activities and is likely to draw on

experience gained with diesel engineering group VarityPerkins to address

progressive EU legislation on diesel emissions.

He will also be responsible for strengthening relationships with the

decentralised communications departments of LucasVarity’s seven business

divisions.

’Our approach is to have a small HQ team and decentralise as much as

possible to the divisions. But we need to establish the structures to

make that possible,’ said Chandler.

Chandler’s replacement at VarityPerkins will oversee a team of 12

including PR managers for the Americas, Asia Pacific and Europe. The

role will also encompass corporate PR including lobbying and crisis

management, exhibitions, advertising, promotions, audio visual and

internal communications.