PRCA hires Katharine Barney as director of comms and policy

Katharine Barney has been brought in to replace Richard Ellis, who left earlier this month to launch his own consultancy, Aardvark Communications.

Barney joins from working at Westminster City Council, where she was a media officer. Previously, she had spent five years at the Evening Standard, latterly as City Hall reporter, and has also written for the Daily Mail, Financial Times and The Independent.

The PRCA, which last year expanded its remit to allow entry to individuals as well as the previously accepted consultancies, comms teams and sole traders, has also promoted internally to fill two other roles.

Katie Goodrum has been promoted to director of events, marketing and commercial partnerships, while Jessica Lobendhan is the new director of training and professional development.

Ingham said: ‘To promote in-house demonstrates the emphasis we put on personal development while also recognising the benefits of drawing on outside experience.’

This week, Ingham stood by a PRCA decision to reject a complaint against Bell Pottinger following criticism from the managing editor of the Bureau of Investigative Journalism, Iain Overton.

This article was first published on prweek.com