LONDON—BackBay Communications, a Boston-based public relations firm focused on the financial and professional services sectors, has opened a London office that will offer public relations and marketing services for clients in the UK and across Europe.

The firm has appointed Toby Mitchenall as director of the London office. Mitchenall joins BackBay from Private Equity International, a leading publication for the global private equity industry, where he served as editor, overseeing the content and production of the magazine, as well as writing regular profiles, interviews and commentary pieces and presenting at industry conferences.

At BackBay, Mitchenall will focus on providing strategic communications services for clients from across the financial and professional services sectors, including asset management firms, private equity firms, hedge funds, financial technology companies, accounting and consulting firms and law firms, in the U.K. and elsewhere in Europe.

Prior to Private Equity International, Mitchenall worked at Citigate Dewe Rogerson, where his clients included law firms, private equity firms and hedge funds.