London – Nick was most recently Communication Director for Lloyds Banking Group where he was responsible for all communications within the retail bank. This role covered the Lloyds TSB, Halifax and Bank of Scotland high street brands, together with the mortgages, cards, current accounts, loans and savings businesses. He will report to Edelman’s Group Managing Director for Corporate and Financial, Alex Bigg, and will be based in London.
Commenting on the appointment, Alex said: “We’re thrilled that Nick is joining Edelman. He brings a wealth of employee engagement experience from his time at Lloyds, during the most turbulent period in the bank’s history. In particular his understanding of how to build employee advocacy and focus the activities of employees during tough economic conditions will be invaluable to our clients. Nick also has great international experience having advised organisations across Europe, North America and the Middle East.”
Nick joined Lloyds Banking Group in 2009 shortly after its creation when Lloyds TSB acquired HBOS. He advised the Retail Chief Executive and Board on engaging employees during the largest financial services integration in Europe. This included designing and setting up a new communication function, developing campaigns for the integration and new business strategy, and advising on customer communication improvements. His work at Lloyds won several awards including a New York Film Festival world medal and Institute of Internal Communication Best Change Communication class winner. Nick was also shortlisted as Melcrum’s Communication Leader of the Year. Before joining Lloyds Nick led and grew the European Workforce Engagement and Change practice of the world’s largest HR consulting firm, Mercer.
Nick said: “It was both a privilege and a challenge to work at Lloyds Banking Group during the most difficult time for the bank. During the ‘perfect storm’ of economic uncertainty, massive integration, loss of trust and Government ownership I was proud that my team helped take employee engagement levels to their highest point ever. Edelman shares my views on employee engagement – that it is a vital reputational lever at the disposal of every organisation. Edelman is the one PR firm that really ‘gets’ this and is able to advise clients, in a joined up way, across the full range of engagement disciplines. I am delighted to be joining the team.”