The Company of Communicators enters its 20th year with a new master and a new lineup of wardens and freemen.

Deborah Oliver takes over the helm as the 20th master, following a successful term by Sarah Wait, which involved membership increasing by 40% despite the sector’s difficulties during the pandemic.

Oliver, director at Mackintosh Oliver Ltd, stepped down from her role as director engagement and communications at the British Medical Association this summer to focus on her year as master.

She says, “As a millennium founder member of the company, I am very proud to follow in the footsteps of the previous 19 masters as we enter our 20th year. There is a real forward momentum as we prepare to become a Worshipful Company. These are challenging times for the communications profession and for the organisations supporting and supplying it. 2020 has shown the fortitude and creativity of communicators across all sectors. We will continue to expand our membership to bring a broad and diverse set of perspectives and to encourage the fellowship and contribution to society which are at the core of the company.”

The new court now comprises:

• Deputy master (and past master), Sarah Wait, director of forward planning services at Kantar, Media Division
• Senior warden, James Gurling, managing director at MHP Communications
• Middle warden, Mark Glover, chief executive, Newington Communications and executive director, SECNewgate
• Junior warden, Neil Griffiths, global head of DE&I at environmental resources management
• Renter warden (treasurer), Sally Sykes, director of communications and engagement at Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and past president, CIPR
• Court assistants: Sean Curtis-Ward, Anne Donoghue, Matt Fincham, Sarah Jurado, Shraddha Kaul, Jeremy Mooney, Helen Moore, Rosie Stone, Richard Walsh, Matthew West
  Clerk, Lady Hilliard

The master’s consort is Tricia Topping, director at Carlyle Consultants and founder of Luxury Topping.

In her last act as Company of Communicators master, Wait welcomed 10 new freemen at a virtual ceremony on Monday:

• Mike Browne, director of How-Now Communications and board member, Chartered Institute of Public Relations
• Arnold Craven, external affairs manager at Cadent Gas Ltd
• Catherine Grinyer, co-founder and director of Attendable and director of Big Voice Communications
• Peter John, councillor for Champion Hill and leader, Southwark Council, 2010-2020
• Peter Kerridge, CEO of Premier Christian Communications
• Major general Neil Sexton, director engagement & communications for the British Army
• Matthew Silver, corporate reputation adviser at Babel PR
• Mark Twigg, executive director, Cicero/AMO
• Lieutenant colonel Lesley Wilde, managing director, Wilde Thing Strategic PR & Events
• Lesley Woods, chief communications officer, Ministry of Defence.

Additionally, a former Freeman has rejoined the company: Lis Lewis-Jones, chief executive of Liquid PR and past president of the CIPR.

“I am delighted to welcome these new Freemen to our Company,” says Wait. “I am equally pleased that Lis has returned to support us going forward. Our focus is to promote the profession, to be active within The City livery movement, to raise funds for our charitable trust and to enjoy a wide range of events. We are also actively striving to embrace a culture of diversity and inclusion within the company – and to encourage it across the livery movement.”