Grayling, the integrated global communications company, today announced the appointment of Stephen Bevan, former Sunday Times news editor, as senior advisor.

Stephen will be using his world-class print and online media expertise to advise Grayling UK’s clients on all aspects of their communications strategy from media relations, crisis communications and media training to client-risk mitigation and thought leadership.

He brings with him decades of front-line journalism experience, exceptional news judgement and deep insight into how the media works adding further strength to the company’s corporate and consumer offer. Alongside this position, Stephen will continue his role as director of Media Foresight.

For 20 years, Stephen has worked across many of the UK’s leading newspapers. Starting his career first as an investigative reporter covering politics, consumer affairs, transport and the environment, he moved on to senior editorial roles at The Times, The Sunday Times and the Mail on Sunday.

As News Editor of The Sunday Times until late 2017, he headed the award-winning team behind scoops such as the investigations into the Trojan Horse plot by hard-line Islamists to take over secular state schools in Birmingham, and the cheating of emissions tests by diesel car manufacturers.

Stephen is extremely well-placed to advise on how stories develop, from the moment they break, through to long-term editorial leaders. His knowledge of channel strategy will bring added value to Grayling’s clients, and give fresh insights into minimising risk, planning, thought leadership and op-ed opportunities.

Earlier on in his career he was part of the team behind the paper’s Rip Off Britain campaign which led to a monopolised inquiry into the major supermarkets and helped expose the link between a cluster of birth defects and toxic waste transports in Corby (a case later described as ‘the British Erin Brockovich’).

Stephen was arrested covering the violent 2008 elections in Zimbabwe as Africa correspondent for the Sunday Telegraph before returning to the UK to run news investigations as deputy head of news for The Times.

Richard Jukes, chairman of Grayling UK, says, “Stephen brings gravitas and significant media insight to our Grayling UK offer. Clients will benefit from his experience as an exceptional leader in the field of journalism, and his senior counsel will be invaluable to our teams across the country.”

Stephen Bevan, senior media advisor at Grayling UK, says, ‘I am delighted to be joining Grayling’s team of senior advisors. At a time when organisations are under greater pressure than ever to demonstrate accountability, the media remains one of the most powerful channels for communication, so it is important to get it right. After decades helping to shape the news agenda, I relish the chance to apply that knowledge and experience to the challenge of dealing with an ever more diverse and complex media industry alongside my work at Media Foresight.’

Stephen Bevan is the latest addition to Grayling UK’s senior advisory team, which includes Brexit and trade expert Shanker Singham and former Conservative MP, Angie Bray.