PUBLIC SECTOR: Camden starts search for comms chief

The London Borough of Camden last week launched a hunt for an assistant CEO to head its newly restructured communications department. The appointee will have more than 40 staff and be responsible for a budget of around pounds 3.5 million. Julia Simpson, who used to head up the department, left the council in May to become David Blunkett’s official spokesman at the Department for Education and Employment. Her role encompassed communications and quality-customer service standards and internal accreditations like ISO 9000. Camden has now separated the two roles and created a specialist communications department. Acting head of communications Alison Withrington will caretake the role until a new head is found.