Pearson International head of comms Alice Hunt departs for Olympic volunteering charity

Hunt will become CEO of Join In, set up to maximise the volunteering opportunities created by London 2012.

She led comms for Pearson International,  which covers the educational side of the Pearson business outside of America and does not include Penguin or the Financial Times.

Pearson confirmed that she has been replaced on an interim basis by Brendan O’Grady, who was previously director of comms, EMEA, for Pearson International.

Join In was set up in 2012 and is chaired by Sir Charles Allen.

Last summer, between the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, it worked with local sports clubs to stage over 6,000 events across the UK. This year, its focus is on connecting the London 2012 volunteers with local sports clubs across the UK.

Alice Hunt, who will start at Join In next month, said: ‘Everyday volunteers are making the wheels of their communities go around more smoothly. We have a lot to learn from these people who give so much and expect so little in return. I hope Join In will play its part in recognising these local heroes and inspiring others to join them.’

Hunt has also held a number of senior communications roles at GlaxoSmithKline, with the consultancy Blue Rubicon, at Age Concern and with the Labour Party.

Join In is working with the Sport England, UK Sport and London & Partners consortium, which has taken on responsibility for LOCOG’s database.  

The charity will exclusively bring news of volunteering opportunities to Games Makers and others who signed up their interest in volunteering with London 2012.

The news comes as Sport England seeks to build a roster for communications and sponsorship support.

This article was first published on prweek.com