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date 11 June 2009
source ATOC
type Press release

The Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC) has appointed Edward Welsh as its Director of Corporate Affairs. Mr. Welsh is the Programme Director for Media and Campaigns at the Local Government Association (LGA) and takes up his new role on August 17.

Reporting to ATOC's Chief Executive Michael Roberts, Mr. Welsh will lead its communications to enhance ATOC's role as an effective advocate for train companies.

Over four years, Mr. Welsh has made a key contribution to developing communications at the LGA, encouraging it to use national media and public facing campaigns more extensively to lobby on behalf of local government. In conjunction with councils across the country, he created and has led the first ever national press office for local government, which won PR Week's Public Sector Department of the Year Award in the 2008. Before working for the LGA, Mr. Welsh was Head of Media Relations of the London Assembly at the Greater London Authority, which he joined after an extensive career in journalism including a range of roles at both The Times and the Sunday Times.

Mr Roberts said: "We are delighted with Edward's appointment. He has been a senior communicator for a membership body, keeping a wide range of organisations on board, often at the centre of complex, public policy issues and under an intense media spotlight. Edward's achievements have been recognised within local government and more widely. We look forward to him making a significant impact in this priority area for ATOC and the train companies.”

Mr Welsh said: “I am really excited to be joining ATOC and building on its first rate work to give the train companies a stronger voice. Railways have shaped and enriched Britain, and the train companies are playing a key part in helping to dig the nation out of recession. Working closely with them, I am eager to help the sector navigate successfully through these turbulent economic and political times."
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For further information, please contact the ATOC Press Office on 020 7841 8020
To download a high-resolution image of Edward Welsh, visit http://www.ATOC-comms.org/dynamic/photo-gallery.php?gid=31

About ATOC
The Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC) is the official voice for the passenger rail industry - representing train companies to the government and other opinion formers on transport policy issues. Britain's train operators are working together to change rail travel for the better.
ATOC manages many joint activities for train operators including revenue allocation and settlement, impartial retailing, National Rail Enquiries, Railcard marketing, staff travel arrangements, international products and travel agent licensing

Railhub Archive ::: 2009-06-11 ATO-001