Luke Skipper, a senior SNP Westminster staffer, is to join Weber Shandwick’s Scottish public affairs team as Account Director in June. The leading global public relations firm has Scottish offices in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen.
Canadian-born Skipper has been Chief of Staff of the SNP Westminster Group for eight years. His duties included overall responsibility for all media, research and policy development and planning SNP political strategy on reserved matters, major stakeholder relations and liaison with the Scottish Government. During his time with the SNP he worked closely with Westminster Leader Angus Robertson MP.
Skipper’s background boasts extensive work with the SNP and Parliament. Having graduated from the University of Edinburgh, he gained experience working with the SNP (in opposition) in the Scottish Parliament, before being promoted to Head of Research for the group in Westminster. He was appointed Chief of Staff in 2007.
Commenting on the appointment, Moray Macdonald, Managing Director of Weber Shandwick in Scotland, said: “Luke’s appointment sees us build our cross-party public affairs consultancy at an exciting time for Scottish politics.
“Scotland and the SNP look set to be at the centre of UK politics for the next five years and in less than a year’s time we go back to the polls to elect a new Parliament at Holyrood. As more powers are devolved to Scotland the need for business to engage with the Parliament and Scottish Government will increase, Luke’s insight and experience will be crucial as we guide clients through our new political landscape.”
Weber Shandwick in Scotland now has senior consultants with backgrounds from all four of the major Scottish parties ensuring that clients have access to the best insight and expertise whatever political communication challenge they face.
Luke Skipper added: “I’m hugely excited about working with Weber Shandwick, an agency that I have long admired from my role in Parliament.
“The team is leading the way in public affairs and communications in Scotland. I look forward to drawing on my previous experience to deepen insight and engagement with Scottish politicians and influencers at both Holyrood and Westminster.”
For insight on politics and elections in Scotland visit Weber Shandwick’s Scottish election website, Scotland Votes.