Guardian Media Group appoints new group director of communications

Guardian Media Group (GMG plc) has appointed Oliver Rawlins as group director of communications. Reporting to Andrew Miller, CEO, Guardian Media Group, he will take up his post on 26 November 2012.

In his role, Oliver will have overall responsibility for GMG’s communications, including supporting the CEO and other senior executives, leading on GMG’s public affairs activities, and overseeing Guardian News & Media’s press office and internal communications.

Andrew Miller, CEO, Guardian Media Group, said: “We are delighted to welcome Oliver to GMG. He has extensive experience working within the media industry, both agency and in-house, possesses a deep understanding of the critical role played by communications in organisations undergoing transformational change, and, importantly, understands GMG’s unique purpose and structure.”

Oliver joins from FremantleMedia, the content and distribution arm of the RTL Group, Europe’s largest television and radio broadcast company. As their vice president, global communications, he has led the team responsible for the company’s worldwide corporate, consumer and internal communications, as well as the international development and promotion of their brands.

He previously held senior communications roles at BBC Worldwide, Weber Shandwick and the UK Film Council, where he was director of communications, overseeing media relations and public policy throughout the organisation and managing global PR campaigns for major UK films such as The King’s Speech.

Oliver Rawlins added: “It is a huge privilege to be joining one of the world’s most trusted, innovative and ambitious media brands, and I look forward to working closely with the whole Guardian Media Group team at a time of exciting change and opportunity”.

Oliver succeeds Chris Wade, who is now head of communications, EMEA for the communications services group, WPP.

ENDS
Further information: Helen Dagley 020 3353 2427 / 07840 282116

Notes for editors
Guardian Media Group is wholly owned by The Scott Trust Ltd, which exists to secure the financial and editorial independence of the Guardian in perpetuity. GMG’s core business is Guardian News & Media, publisher of guardian.co.uk, one of the world’s leading news websites, as well as guardiannews.com and the Guardian and Observer newspapers.

The group’s portfolio of investments includes:

– Trader Media Group: one of Europe’s largest specialist media companies, and publisher of the Auto Trader website and magazine.
Trader Media Group is jointly owned by GMG and Apax Partners.
– Top Right Group (formerly Emap): a leading international business-to-business digital intelligence and events business, also jointly owned by GMG and Apax Partners.
– GMG Property Services: the leading provider of software, technology and design solutions to the property industry.
– An externally managed investment fund.