Rishi Sunak’s former director of communications Amber de Botton is joining Guardian Media Group.
De Botton will be chief communications officer for the national newspaper publisher and will sit on its executive committee, reporting to editor-in-chief Katharine Viner and chief executive Anna Bateson.
She said last year the role had been “an honour and a privilege” but she had “decided it is the right time to move on”. She also thanked Sunak “for his support and his leadership”.
Before that she was head of UK news at ITV News where towards the end of her tenure she was part of the team shortlisted for Press Gazette’s British Journalism Awards for its Partygate coverage.
De Botton said in a statement: “I have long-admired The Guardian’s agenda-setting journalism. The group has a powerful role internationally in the future of news media. I am excited to have the opportunity to promote stories that change lives, laws and legacies.”
De Botton has also been head of politics at ITV News, deputy head of politics at Sky News and political editor at Politics Home publisher Total Politics.
Update: De Botton has agreed not to contact the Government in her new role or take part in any lobbying activity from The Guardian for two years after the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (ACOBA) found that her “influence and network of contacts in government” means she may have information of interest to any employer in media and communications.
“Particularly, as she seeks to take up a role that operates in its wider comms and strategy – which could be construed as seeking to influence the UK government on behalf of GMG,” ACOBA said.
“This would be contrary to the lobbying ban which applies to all former senior civil servants for two years on leaving office.”
Mitigating factors include that de Botton has already been out of No 10 for eight months, that she is returning to a media career she already held for more than 15 years, and that her Downing Street role was primarily centred on external communications about information ready to be placed in the public domain rather than sensitive information.
ACOBA provides advice on the next business appointments of senior civil servants when they leave their roles.
The public body, which is independent from the Government, noted that de Botton had “regular contact” with journalists from across the industry including at The Guardian, and including “semi-regular” meetings with Guardian political editor Pippa Crerar, during her time in No 10.
However, it said, she had no contact with GMG’s corporate management and was not involved in any “policy, regulatory or commercial decisions” relating to the publisher or its competitors.
ACOBA said: “The Cabinet Office told the Committee that whilst it is possible for a No.10 Director of Communications to favour one media outlet over another, there is no evidence she did. Further, her contact with GMG… was limited to speaking to the Guardian about messaging coming from No.10 – not in relation to decisions on the operation of the GMG or its publications.
“As such, the Committee considered the risk that this role could reasonably be perceived as a reward for decisions or actions in office is low.”
GMG has confirmed it will ensure de Botton has “no direct engagement” with the Government. Any contact initiated by the Government is permitted, however.
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