LONDON — Ruth Jones, the UK managing director of Lewis Global Communications, is leaving the firm to start a new venture as an independent consultant, PRovoke Media has learned.

Jones had been with Lewis for seven years, starting as a director at the agency’s global headquarters in London in 2013, becoming deputy MD in 2016 and rising to managing director in 2018.

She was previously a board director at Speed for eight years, heading up the technology team, and a director at Rainier for nearly four.

The departure follows Lewis EMEA senior SVP Giles Peddy leaving the agency in August. 

Jones told PRovoke Media that it had been a difficult decision to set up on her own, particularly during a pandemic, “but there’s always a reason not to do it.”

She said she was planning to work direct with clients as well as with PR agencies, in her specialist area of technology: “B2B tech has always been my wheelhouse, and cyber security is a big passion of mine. I’ll be doing PR, marketing, and helping brands reposition as they reshape for the future.”

Jones added: “Lewis is a fantastic agency. It has a hugely talented international team, matched with some great clients. I leave Lewis with some great memories from the last seven years. It was sad to say farewell to the team, but I’m looking forward to the next chapter of my career.”

At Lewis, EVP Europe and APCA Yvonne van Bokhoven said: "We wish Ruth well with this new venture. She will continue to work for Lewis as a contractor on a few client campaigns."

Van Bokhoven told PRovoke Media that the agency is in the process of recruiting a new leader for the UK, and "in the meantime we have a very strong senior leadership team in place in the UK that is running the day-to-day business."