Insight Consulting Group (ICG) is ramping up its corporate communications offering with the hire of former lobby journalist John Higginson.

Higginson, who takes up his role as head of corporate communications later this month (May 18), has more than 15 years of experience in media. Having worked his way up from local newspapers and news agencies he has worked in the US and in Britain for The Sun, The People, Daily and Sunday Mirror, Independent, Evening Standard and Metro. As Metro's political editor, based within Parliament, his ability to explain complex situations in simple terms made him a popular political pundit on Sky News, BBC News 24, Daily Politics, Newsnight Extra, ITV Daybreak and Lorraine, Russia Today and on LBC radio.

He brought his eye for a story to the corporate world in 2013 when he joined Westbourne Communications as head of communications. At Westbourne Higginson helped land US car sharing firm Uber during last summer's London taxi strikes, was the communications lead on Hitachi Rail's move from Tokyo to London and delivered huge publicity for the Wolfson Economics Prize 2014 on Garden Cities as its account lead.

At the end of 2014 Higginson set up Justice Delayed Justice Denied, funded by the Telegraph and Guardian Media Groups, to cap police bail at 28 days following the treatment of his wife The Sun's Whitehall editor Clodagh Hartley. The campaign achieved the first ever letter to editor published in five national newspapers on the same day and was hailed a success when home secretary Theresa May announced in March that legislation would be introduced to cap police bail at 28 days. The campaign was nominated for a PRMoment 2015 award and is shortlisted for 'Public affairs campaign of the year' at the CIPR Excellence Awards later this month (May).

Formerly Insight Public Affairs ICG, Insight Consulting group, run by managing director John Lehal, has undergone a rebrand this year and the high-level media hire shows the firm’s commitment to strengthening its burgeoning corporate communications offering. At ICG Higginson will be leading and growing the corporate communications practice. He will do corporate communications, crisis communications, media training, PR strategy and profile raising for ICG’s clients which include Bristol-Myers Squibb, Novartis and Pfizer. ICG also gives communications advice to Camden Town Unlimited, Bluebird Care and Look Ahead Care & Support.

ICG managing director John Lehal says, “John’s deep and wide media knowledge and proven track record will prove invaluable to our clients. His strategic thinking, creativity and calm under pressure align perfectly with the work we’re known for and where we are going.”

In April last year the nine-year-old agency joined a five-strong international network of lobbying agencies set up by US member Blue Star Strategies, with other members in Europe and Asia.

Higginson says, “ICG has a trusted reputation for creativity, delivery and careful stewardship of some of the world’s most successful brands. It's back catalogue of awards, client retention and wins through referrals speaks volumes for the quality of its output. I look forward to working with the hugely talented ICG team to help clients respond to the changing media landscape.”