Former Sun head of news Chris Pharo has joined PR agency 72Point as chief operations officer.
The move comes some four years after Pharo was arrested by police investigating payments made to public officials under Operation Elveden.
Pharo was cleared alongside colleague Jamie Pyatt in October 2015 after a second trial.
He is one of a number of senior Sun journalists to leave the paper after being arrested, charged and ultimately cleared under Elveden.
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Others to have left include deputy editor Geoff Webster, former managing editor Graham Dudman, executive editor Fergus Shanahan, picture editor John Edwards and chief reporter John Kay.
72Point is the PR division of the UK's biggest independent news agency group SWNS.
Pharo, 46, had worked for The Sun for 25 years, and was head of news for more than a decade before becoming associate editor.
He will oversee 72Point, OnePoll and story-broking business Talk To The Press.
He will also be launching new ventures in media training and crisis management.
He said: "After 25 years in newspapers this represents an entirely new and exciting challenge for me.
“I am hugely impressed by the work 72Point carry out and I hope to help the team move on to even greater things."
"It’s great to be back in the saddle and working for yet another premier operation.
“There are many challenges ahead and I can’t wait to take them on alongside the dynamic team at 72Point. “
Other journalists to join SWNS in recent months include: former Sunday Mirror news editor Euan Stretch, PA’s former head of video Isabelle Potts and former group head of content for Trinity Mirror in Scotland Steve Martin.
SWNS and 72Point managing director Paul Walters said: "It’s an honour to welcome Chris to the SWNS family.
"Someone of his calibre, ability and experience is a fantastic addition to the business."
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