LONDON – The PR Network has hired former BBC and Hearst communications leader Karen Meachen as a client services director.

Meachen joins after more than four years as head of communications for the BBC’s commercial division, BBC Studioworks, where she was responsible for external and internal communications and was a member of its executive committee.

Before this, Meachen worked for publishing house Hearst, overseeing communications and events strategies and PR agency management for global magazine titles including Cosmopolitan, ELLE, Good Housekeeping and Women’s Health, latterly as head of PR for the UK business and its 26 brands.

Meachen previously worked with PRN’s co-founders George Blizzard and Nicky Regazzoni at Bite Communications in the early 2000s, where she was part of the agency’s European services division, working with brands including Apple, BT, Duracell and SAP.

As the third client services director in PRN’s permanent UK-based team, Meachen will work alongside Eileen Boydell and Katy Campbell to shape the virtual agency pioneer’s proposition for international companies, including adding new products and services.

Meachen said: “I’ve long admired the PR Network and I’m thrilled to be joining such a progressive business. The team is exceptionally talented and delivers exemplary service around the globe. I’m looking forward to working with them as we grow our offering and create new and innovative opportunities which further enhance our customer experience.”

Blizzard added: “It’s a hugely exciting time to be joining the agency. We’re focused on helping clients deliver effective campaigns across multiple markets via the PRN Hub, working with world-leading brands such as Workday, Snap and plant-based meat firm, Beyond Meat. Since we first worked together in 2003, I’ve admired Karen’s ability to build firm relationships with clients, she instinctively knows what they want and how to deliver effectively.”