Oftel picks DTI man to head up PR

Telcoms watchdog the Office of Telecommunications (Oftel) has

appointed Duncan Stroud to the post of communications director.

He replaces Nick Gammage, who left last autumn to take up the role of

communications director at the Consumers’ Association.

Until last week Stroud was chief press officer at the Department of

Trade and Industry, running the three desks - Employment, Energy and

Industry - that make up its core press activity.

Most recently he was dealing with issues such as the National Minimum

Wage and Fairness at Work proposals.

Stroud will oversee a team of six press officers and three researchers,

reporting directly to Oftel director-general David Edmonds.

Oftel’s remit covers three areas: promoting competition; ensuring

companies comply with their licence agreements, and protecting

consumers.

Stroud is likely to deal with issues including Oftel’s role in the

constant demand for more domestic telephone numbers, further number

changes in the London telecoms network, the fight against

anti-competitive practice, and ensuring the industry is millennium

compliant.

Stroud said: ’Oftel is anything but a blunt instrument with which to

beat the business sector over the head with. It’s about working closely

with business to ensure that the right information is out there and that

the consumer gets the best deal.’