Irish bookmaker Paddy Power has appointed Adam Smith as its new head of external communications following his resignation from his previous role as a special adviser to former UK Department for Culture, Media and Sport Minister Jeremy Hunt.
According to PRweek.com, Smith quit the position last year during the Leveson Inquiry into unfair media practices in the UK – a process in which he gave evidence.
In his new role at Paddy Power, Smith will report to Catherine Colloms, who was hired in January as part of a strategy to build a new on-house corporate team – which the bookmaker said will be bolstered further in the coming months.
Colloms said Smith “brings a wealth of experience and expertise from operating in Westminster and Whitehall”.
Smith’s departure from his previous role was prompted by accusations that he had developed a close relationship with News Corporation and its public director, Fred Michel, during the company’s bid for ownership of UK pay-television broadcaster BSkyB.
