Jenny Jones has joined the Chemical Industries Association as public
affairs director following a rejig of the trade body’s communications
function.
Jones, formerly Shell Chemicals Europe’s public affairs manager, joined
the 200- member CIA in mid-September. At the association, she heads up a
12-strong directorate, incorporating UK and European government and
institutional relations, media relations and business news, and
community relations and communications.
Jones spent eight months in her previous post, where she managed Shell
Chemicals Europe’s media relations, government relations, marketing
communications, external publications and employee communications. She
first joined the oil giant in 1987, and held several posts, including
those of public affairs manager of Shell Chemicals UK and Shell UK’s
manager of environmental programmes.
Jones stressed that the creation of the new directorate reflected a
determination to improve public understanding of the benefits of the
chemical industry.
She said the CIA, which currently does not retain a PR or public affairs
agency, was unlikely to take on a full-time agency, although she did not
rule out ad hoc appointments.
‘It is possible that we may use an agency on a project basis,’ she said.
Shell Chemicals Europe has not yet announced Jones’ replacement.