Microsoft is on the verge of recruiting its first UK government
relations head.
The move comes after a year during which the US software giant has
sought to extend its co-operation with Government in the UK,
participating in initiatives including internet access for schools and
Year 2000 schemes.
The company is now keen to input into the Government’s pending
e-commerce legislation.
The brief for the new post remains relatively undefined and depends on
the calibre of the successful candidate. It will be based at Microsoft’s
UK headquarters in Reading and work alongside the existing corporate PR
team, which is headed by Karen Bergin.
The new government relations head is expected to report to European
legal and corporate affairs head John Frank, who is based in Paris, and
will work closely with Microsoft UK chairman David Svendsen.
The new post will be responsible for liaising with Microsoft’s UK public
affairs agency of two years, August.One.
Bergin heads a team of four staff and oversees the company’s
relationship with its seven PR and public affairs agencies, including
August.One, The Red Consultancy, which handles its consumer PR, and
Miller Shandwick, which is responsible for promoting Windows devices.
