LONDON — TalkTalk, the UK’s second-biggest provider of TV, broadband, phone and mobile services, has hired Lucy Thomas as director of corporate affairs.

Thomas joins from Edelman, where she was a senior director working with clients including Uber, Sainsbury’s and Coca Cola on corporate reputation, PR, political campaigning and crisis management.

She was formerly a BBC journalist, serving as a producer on the flagship Newsnight and Radio 4 news programmes, and did a four-year stint in the BBC’s Brussels bureau covering EU institutions. Thomas was also a director of the Britain Stronger In Europe campaign in the run-up to the EU referendum.

TalkTalk CEO Tristia Harrison said: “I’m thrilled that TalkTalk is gaining Lucy’s media and campaigning expertise. She joins an excellent communications and public affairs team at a really important time for the business, as the Government and Ofcom consider major changes to the industry and the debate about full fibre networks is at the top of the political agenda. Lucy and her team will make sure TalkTalk's challenger voice is heard at every decision-making table, in Westminster and in the media.”

Thomas added: “Working with a fantastic female leadership team is particularly exciting. The decisions made by Government and Ofcom over the next 12-18 months will help shape this industry for the next decade. It is crucial we’re at our campaigning best, sticking up for our customers and reminding everyone why TalkTalk’s role as the challenger really matters.”