Home Office appoints veteran BBC journalist as new director of comms

One of the most demanding roles in central Government comms, Tighe takes on the role at a time of heightened security concerns for the UK, with terrorist attacks on Parliament, the Manchester Arena and London Bridge earlier this year.

He will oversee the comms work of the department across its multiple briefs, which include immigration, law and order, and the police, as well as security and counter-terrorism.

Tighe, who studied politics, philosophy and economics at the University of Oxford, was made interim director of comms at the Home Office following the departure of Simon Wren in June.

He told PRWeek: "I’m excited to have been appointed to lead one of the most creative and talented communications teams in government. It’s a great opportunity to put communications at the heart of everything the Home Office does - keeping the UK safe and secure."

Tighe outlined his priorities for the comms team under his tenure, which include social media and internal comms.

It’s a great opportunity to put communications at the heart of everything the Home Office does - keeping the UK safe and secure.

Andy Tighe, new director of comms at the Home Office

He said: "We’ll soon be expanding our presence on social media channels, we’ll be refocusing and sharpening our internal communications activity, and we’ve just launched a new stakeholder engagement team. I’ll be looking for effective and innovative ways of bringing our teams of specialists together, working with colleagues across government to provide excellent communications solutions across the very wide range of Home Office business."

Tighe joined the Home Office as its head of news in 2011, leading the department’s response to a range of events and issues, including terrorist attacks, police reform and historical child sexual abuse. 

Earlier in his career, Tighe spent more than 20 years working for the BBC, first in local radio, then as a reporter for the Today programme and later as part of the launch team for BBC News 24, before he became a national TV and radio correspondent, specialising in home affairs.