Guide Dogs for the Blind is to undergo a restructure of its press
and PR functions after a strategic communications review by corporate
development director Steve Billington.
The move comes in the wake of the departure of the two former key senior
PR managers responsible for media relations and communications, and as
part of a wider shake-up of the charity’s strategy over the past two
years.
The role of the head of communications, the top PR job at the charity,
has been broadened to take on board advertising, web site development
and publications, in addition to internal and external communications,
press and PR.
The new head will implement a new five-year communications strategy for
the association and oversee a possible rebranding, although Billington
has yet to finalise this.
The charity will also bring in a new media relations manager, who will
head up the two-strong press office and bring a more proactive
campaigning strategy. The post will report to the media relations
head.
The previous head of communications, David Holding, left in August to
travel, while the former head of media relations has moved to become the
new PR manager for medical journal The Lancet.
