British Airways Appoints Former PM Adviser as PR

British Airways said it had appointed a former adviser to Prime Minister Tony Blair to head its corporate media communications.

Julia Simpson will take on the post formerly held by the airline’s head of communications, Iain Burns, who resigned in October after being linked to an investigation into alleged price-fixing of fuel surcharges. BA’s commercial director, Martin George, quit at the same time.

Mrs. Simpson, who will report to BA Chief Executive Willie Walsh, takes up her new job in August, the airline said in a statement. She has previously worked as an adviser to the prime minister for strategic communications and been responsible for communications advice on counter-terrorism, home affairs, education and local government.