Montfort Communications, the fast-growing strategic and financial communications agency, announces the appointment of two new senior consultants.

Duncan Learmouth joins Montfort from GlaxoSmithKline Plc, where he worked for 23 years in a variety of senior positions including global head of communications and investor relations from 2006-2010 as an executive board member. His last four years were as the senior vice president of developing countries (Africa and Southern Asia), where he oversaw a series of programmes that trebled GSK’s turnover in those regions.

James Olley joins Montfort’s management committee after 11 years at Brunswick where he was an acknowledged media relations specialist with leadership of several blue chip accounts. James has extensive experience advising across a broad range of reputation management and communications issues including on a number of prominent acquisitions, disposals, crises and listings, and particularly of working in the private equity and consumer brands industries. James is a Trustee of the St Paul’s Cathedral Foundation, The City of London Festival and is a member of the Advisory Council of the London Symphony Orchestra.

Montfort has been trading for several months and has already attracted a roster of multi-billion pound transactions, prominent blue chip corporates and financial services clients with combined assets under management in excess of £1 trillion. Headquartered in Mayfair, Montfort currently employs 12 experienced staff drawn from established consultancies and major international corporations.

Learmouth and Olley’s appointment follows a number of recent hires including: Charlotte McMullen (ex M:Communications; CTF); Hannah Glynn (ex LVMH; Hogan Lovells); Marc Ng (ex M:Communications; Financial Dynamics); Rory King (ex MHP; Penrose); Sophie Blythe (ex Toyota; M:Communications) and Toto Reissland-Burghart (ex MHP; Mattison)

Earlier this year Montfort announced the appointment of Gay Collins, former executive chairman of MHP and founder of Penrose Financial as one of the founding partners of Montfort alongside Hugh Morrison and Nick Miles. Hugh Morrison says, “Montfort is evolving fast, attracting people of the highest quality and building a client base to match. We are delighted with progress to date and grateful to all concerned for their unwavering commitment to Montfort’s future success.”