Hirst (pictured, above) will start in January 2021 and have responsibility for external and internal communications.
He has 25 years’ experience in comms and public affairs. Hirst headed group corporate affairs at the John Lewis Partnership for just over three years until May this year. Before that he was director of external communications at Virgin Media and director of comms at Ofcom.
Hirst spent the earlier part of his career in journalism, latterly as deputy business editor of the Independent on Sunday, covering UK and international business.
Director of corporate affairs is a new position at Halma, created to strengthen the group's comms function.
Hirst said: “Halma’s purpose is to grow a safer, cleaner, healthier future for everyone, every day. This couldn’t be more relevant to the world we are living in today and I am delighted to be joining Halma.”
The UK-based group has a presence in more than 20 countries and generated revenue of £1.3bn in 2020. It operates across four sectors: medical, environmental & analysis, infrastructure safety, and process safety.
