Pagefield bolsters advisory team with former Permanent Secretary and Blair-Brown policy advisor

Pagefield, the leading integrated communications agency, has today announced that John Alty and Patrick Diamond have been appointed as senior advisors. Alty is a former Director General and Permanent Secretary at the Department for International Trade while Diamond was a Senior Policy Advisor in 10 Downing Street under Tony Blair and Gordon Brown and is now Professor of Public Policy at Queen Mary University of London (QMUL).
 
Alty has extensive experience as a senior civil servant across Whitehall and has held senior roles at the then Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and the UK Intellectual Property Office (IPO). He is also a visiting professor at the London School of Economics (LSE) and a member of the Competition Appeal Tribunal – a specialist judicial body whose function is to hear and decide cases involving competition or economic regulatory issues.
 
Diamond held a number of senior posts in Government between 2000 and 2010, including Head of Policy Planning in 10 Downing Street. He has advised key figures across the political spectrum on policy development, including contributing to manifestos and authoring position papers on devolution, economic regulation, housing, and regeneration. In addition, Diamond served as Labour councillor in the London Borough of Southwark from 2010 to 2014, and now sits on the Scientific Council of the Foundation for European Progressive Studies. He contributes op-ed articles to a number of publications including the Financial Times, The Guardian and The Wall Street Journal, and appears regularly on broadcast outlets including Sky News, BBC News and Al Jazeera.
 
As senior advisors, both Alty and Diamond will use their invaluable understanding of the mechanics of government to support Pagefield’s public and regulatory affairs across the multiple sectors in which the agency operates.
  
Commenting on the new appointments, Pagefield Founder, Mark Gallagher, said: “Pagefield has always been known for attracting well-connected people from across the political spectrum and these two appointments will help ensure we continue to provide our clients with first-class advice on policy engagement as well as the intricacies of trade policy and international diplomacy.” 
 
Oliver Foster, Pagefield CEO, added: “As the potential for a change in government is ever-increasing, Patrick’s understanding of the opposition parties and Whitehall will bolster the expertise we already have in the team. John’s inside knowledge of the machinery of government will be invaluable, particularly as we help our clients navigate the UK’s post-Brexit trade agenda.”
 
Alty added: “The team at Pagefield is renowned for its deep understanding of Westminster and its ability to deliver impactful public affairs campaigns for a host of fascinating clients across multiple sectors. I’m delighted to join them and hope to be able to draw on my experience, particularly with trade policy, to help both the team and Pagefield’s clients navigate an increasingly complex international landscape.”
 
Diamond said: “Pagefield’s advisory team are doing impressive work in providing policy analysis, strategic counsel, and political engagement. I look forward to supporting their efforts on the devolution agenda, economic regeneration, and narrowing the regional divide. These critical areas require innovative approaches and collaboration between stakeholders to ensure inclusive growth and create opportunities for all.”