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The ´óÏó´«Ã½ has appointed Paul Mylrea as Head of Press & Media Relations, ´óÏó´«Ã½.

Reporting to Ed Williams, Director of Communications, ´óÏó´«Ã½, he will take up his post on 6 April 2010 and replace Donald Steel who will assume his role as Associate Fellow of the ´óÏó´«Ã½ Academy and as Chief Communications Adviser.

Paul will be responsible for the ´óÏó´«Ã½'s overall approach to press and media relations, leading the ´óÏó´«Ã½ Press Office and providing strategic and editorial leadership of key reputational issues playing out through the press.

He will also be the ´óÏó´«Ã½'s official spokesman.

Additionally he will be a member of the Communications Steering Group chaired by Ed Williams and play an active role in the leadership and development of communications across the ´óÏó´«Ã½.

"Paul is a terrific hire for the ´óÏó´«Ã½," said Ed Williams. "The combination of 20 years at Reuters, along with proven experience at the hard end of public sector communications, is excellent preparation for leading media relations at the ´óÏó´«Ã½.

"Paul has a significant contribution to make, and I am looking forward to working with him closely."

On Donald Steel, Ed Williams said: "I want to thank Donald Steel for leading the ´óÏó´«Ã½'s media relations for almost ten years.

"He has done so with great integrity and charm and I know, although there have been tough conversations along the way, he has made many friends in the press.

"Donald will continue to play a role both through the ´óÏó´«Ã½ Academy and as Chief Communications Advisor to me."

Currently Paul Mylrea is Director of Communications for the Department for International Development (DFID), with responsibility for all communications, including media, ministerial communications, web and e-comms, stakeholder engagement, marketing and internal communications. Paul also created the Department's first strategic communications planning team.

Previously Paul's career has included senior communications positions at Oxfam and Transport for London as well as Reuters where he developed the Reuters Foundation's online charity service, AlertNet.

He has also been a member of the Media Advisory Board of the Disasters Emergency Committee.

Paul Mylrea said: "The ´óÏó´«Ã½ has a unique relationship with both the public and the media and faces the challenge of constant and increased scrutiny.

"This is a fantastic opportunity and I look forward to working with Ed and his team at the ´óÏó´«Ã½."

´óÏó´«Ã½ Press Office