LGcomms has appointed Essex County Council’s Andy Allsopp as its Chair for 2022 following its Annual General Meeting.
Andy Allsopp succeeds Alix Macfarlane who served a two-year term as LGcomms Chair.
A former print journalist, Allsopp began his career in the NHS before moving to the voluntary sector. He has worked in local government communications and marketing for 21 years, across six local councils – County, District and a London borough.
Other changes to the committee line up include Zander Mills’ appointment as Vice Chair and Andrew Hadfield-Ames’ move to National Secretary.
The organisation’s Officers for the coming year are:
Chair:
Andy Allsopp
Vice Chairs:
Emma Rodgers
Danni Clayton
Zander Mills
National Secretary:
Andrew Hadfield-Ames
Treasurer:
Ben Knowles
Executive Director:
Francis Ingham
LGcomms Executive Director Francis Ingham MPRCA, said:
“Alix’s term as LGcomms Chair coincided with perhaps the most challenging period in the history of public sector communications. She has worked tirelessly in the interests of public sector communicators and we thank her for her outstanding contribution to the organisation. These past two years have unequivocally proved the importance of public sector PR. We look forward to working with Andy to deliver the committee’s priorities for 2022 and beyond.”
LGcomms Chair Andy Allsopp, said:
“It is a great honour to become Chair of LGcomms and I am excited at the prospect of leading our talented and committed executive team as we get to grips with an exciting agenda.
“I want our focus to be on building the alliances and collaborations we need across public services, to grow our organisation and keep our membership offer alive and relevant – the past two years of partnership working through the pandemic needs to become our calling card in the post pandemic era. At every level, local, regional and national, we need to be listening, collaborating and influencing so that we can develop a new communications playbook for our sector.”