Grandfield PR got more than it bargained for when it appointed its
new senior consultant, Chris Smith. The former director of HSBC
Securities is also studying drama full-time.
Smith has secretly nursed a burning ambition to tread the boards since
he was young. Now he has turned his back on a flourishing, 16-year
career in the City which included time at W Greenwell, BZW and Hoare
Govett, to pursue it. Luckily, Grandfield is there to sponsor him.
Smith plays down the situation professionally, however: ’I don’t want to
be labelled,’ he says. Although perhaps he just doesn’t want to be
referred to continually as a PR luvvie.
His job will be useful to keep his business hand in and, perhaps, for
the money it brings. ’I am doing both at the moment, but my course is
full-time. I have known Grandfield for a long time and thought they were
a good outfit.’
Grandfield chief executive Charles Cook is also happy with Smith’s
double life. ’He will be a major asset to the firm and our clients,’ he
declares, enthusiastically.
