Tanya Joseph, former press officer to Tony Blair and MD of Grayling’s UK public affairs operation, is to join The Communication Group in early September, as managing director of the consultancy’s Public Affairs Practice.

The Communication Group includes among its clients De Beers, Royal Bank of Canada, BHP Billiton, Dubai Tourism, Rio Tinto, Canary Wharf Group plc and Grosvenor.

Joseph first became a civil servant in 1998, working initially as press secretary for the Lord Chancellor, Lord Irvine before joining the Number 10 press office working for Prime Minister Tony Blair and reporting to Alastair Campbell.

In 2001 she was sent to Pakistan to set up and run the Coalition Information Centre to rebut Taliban and Al Qaeda propaganda and establish crucial, on the ground, daily press briefings.

Her most recent position has been as Grayling’s managing director, UK Public Affairs.

[lnk|http://www.thecommunicationgroup.co.uk|_blank|The Communication Group]