DCA strengthens comms function with double hire
The Department for Constitutional Affairs (DCA) has beefed up its comms department with two senior recruits.
The Office for Criminal Justice Reform head of communications Nicola Murray has been appointed as DCA head of comms delivery. She effectively replaces former head of corporate comms Mike Wicksteed, who joined the Office of the Lord Chief Justice in May.
George and Murray are two of three direct reports to DCA director of comms Lucian Hudson. The third is head of news Peter Wilkinson, who has been in the post for two years.
'When I arrived at the DCA, comms was seen to be under-resourced and the department needed to be more strategic,' said Hudson.
George joins at the end of October and will be charged with internal comms, including team briefings and a staff magazine. She will also be responsible for stakeholder relations and mid to long-term planning with policy officers. She has been at the Home Office since 1999.
Murray will take up her post in November, overseeing campaigns, publicity, website, marketing, outsourcing and advertising. She has worked at the Office for Criminal Justice Reform since November 2003.
The DCA – which is responsible for 'upholding justice, rights and democracy' and works closely with the Crown Prosecution Service – announced a bill to reform the electoral system this week. The proposals are designed to improve security in the system after problems with postal voting in the May general election.
The department is also responsible for providing guidance on the Freedom of Information Act, which came into effect this year.
