LONDON — Corporate and public affairs agency WA Communications has appointed former Grayling UK CEO Alison Clarke as its first chair.

In the newly-created role, Clarke will work with the agency’s leadership team to enhance its strategic communications offer and drive further integration of the agency’s public affairs, corporate communications, digital, creative and research services.

As well as leading Grayling’s UK & Ireland business between 2011 and 2015, Clarke was president of Weber Shandwick Asia Pacific for three years, and has served as chair of the PRCA and as CIPR president. Throughout her career, she has advised global brands including British Airways, Diageo, MasterCard, McDonald's, Nestlé and Unilever.

Clarke has worked with WA since January 2022 as one of its senior advisors, alongside journalist and broadcaster Steve Richards and former Whitehall permanent secretary Sir Philip Rutnam.

The move is one of several recent WA appointments, which have seen the firm invest across a range of communications disciplines and secure significant in-depth sector expertise, including Tom Frackowiak joining the agency from H/Advisors Cicero to expand the business’s financial service offer; former Times journalist Philip Pank adding nearly 20 years' transport media experience; and newly-appointed deputy MD Laura Gabb boosting the strategic communications offer.

WA, which was recognised as one of the top public affairs firms in EMEA in PRovoke Media’s 2023 consultancy of the year awards, has recently won integrated communications briefs from brands including RWE, Pfizer, the Institution of Civil Engineers, and Chiltern Rail.

Clarke said: “I’ve already worked with WA for more than two years, and have seen first-hand the industry-leading integrated campaigns they deliver every day. Now I’m excited to be taking on a wider role – drawing on my experience driving growth and impact for some of the world’s biggest communications agencies – to help the team continue to widen the scale, scope and success of that work.”

WA managing director Dominic Church added: "Alison has played a key part in our recent growth, and I’m delighted that she’s able to widen her role with WA. I know her global experience, first-hand understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing high-profile brands, and cross-discipline communications expertise will be key to achieving our ambition of becoming the UK’s leading independent strategic communications agency.”