A leading national communications agency has strengthened its powerhouse political consultancy service with the announcement of two new senior counsels.
Respected public affairs experts Paul Smith and Elliot Roy – based in Wales and Scotland respectively – join JBP Communications, expanding on its long-established Westminster team and enhancing its political affairs support for clients across the UK.
Based in JBP’s recently opened Cardiff office, Smith – a seasoned political and stakeholder engagement professional – brings extensive experience in Welsh public affairs.
He has played a pivotal role in shaping political strategies and managing high-level stakeholder relationships throughout Wales. He has also led public affairs campaigns for organisations such as RSPCA Cymru and has been actively involved in political campaigns and elections across Wales.
Roy has spent the last decade working in political and government roles at both Westminster and Holyrood. His experience includes serving as a special adviser in the Scotland Office and 10 Downing Street, where he was responsible for Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. He later held senior political and policy roles during the 2021 Scottish Parliament Election and has worked with prime ministers, party leaders and other senior parliamentarians over the span of his career.
Chris Lawrance, Managing Director at JBP Communications, said: “The appointment of Paul and Elliot marks an exciting new chapter in the expansion of JBP’s political offering, injecting decades of experience and deep regional knowledge into the collective expertise of our public affairs team centred on Westminster.
“We are delighted to have them onboard and are confident that their insights will enable us to further deliver the highest level of strategic political advice across the country and inform our core mission of helping clients chart a course to the decisions that matter most to them.”
The new appointments come as JBP is embarking on a major expansion which also includes the opening of new offices in Harrogate and Cardiff.