Jonathan Ashworth has been appointed as Weber Shandwick’s new UK Chairman of Public Affairs.
It’s a number of changes within the agency to strengthen its public affairs practice.
Ashworth is a former Labour MP for Leicester South and the Salford-born politician will be known to Prolific North readers for his work in the region at the start of his career.
He was seconded to the Scottish Labour Party in 2003, working closely with the then Chancellor, Gordon Brown. He was a long-standing member of Keir Starmer’s shadow cabinet and served as shadow Secretary of State for Health, Work and Pensions and later shadow Paymaster General.
In 2024 Ashworth lost his seat and become CEO of think tank Labour Together.
In the new role, Ashworth will focus on providing strategic counsel on government relations, public policy and political risk, helping clients navigate the ever-changing political and regulatory landscape.
“I’m delighted to join Weber Shandwick’s Public Affairs practice and Weber Advisory, bringing my experience to the team. In today’s fast-moving and often unpredictable political environment, helping organisations engage strategically and build meaningful relationships with stakeholders has never been more important,” he said.
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The agency, which has offices across the world, including Manchester, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Edinburgh has also named Laura Gabb as Executive Vice President, Head of UK Public Affairs and promoted Ben Stetson to Senior Vice President in Public Affairs.
Gabb is a former Partner at 5654 & Company and Managing Director at FTI Consulting, working with clients such as Microsoft, EDF, British Sugar, and Heathrow Airport.
“I’m thrilled to join Weber Shandwick at such an exciting time. Bringing my consultancy expertise to Weber Advisory, I’m excited to work closely with the team and the wider network to develop innovative strategies that deliver real impact for our clients and help them navigate political and corporate challenges,” she said.
Helen Bennett, CEO, UK, Weber Shandwick added:
“Our new Public Affairs leadership team highlights the importance of guiding our clients through an increasingly complex political and regulatory landscape, offering them the expertise and strategic guidance needed to achieve their goals and build lasting trust. This team will play a vital role in driving impactful results and strengthening our Public Affairs offering in the UK.”
