James Holt, who went to Mary Webb College in Pontesbury and Shrewsbury Faculty sixth type, is the brand new govt director of the Archewell Basis, Meghan and Harry’s not-for-profit organisation to advertise charitable works.
Mr Holt, a former reporter on the Shropshire Star and Shrewsbury Chronicle, succeeds Catherine St Laurent, who stated she would proceed to work for the couple in an advisory position.
He beforehand served because the couple’s UK spokesman, and has additionally labored with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
He additionally labored as head of communications for Sir Nick Clegg throughout his time period as deputy prime minister.
The 38-year-old, who grew up in Shrewsbury, joined as a trainee reporter with the Shropshire Star in 2004, having graduated with a BA in Journalism at Lincoln College. He went on to write down for the Star’s sister title, the Shrewsbury Chronicle, and through that point he spent six days embedded with the British Military in Basra.
Writing for each the Star and the Chronicle, he described coming underneath hearth 10 occasions throughout his brief keep, and studying in regards to the deaths of two troopers from Shropshire.
He gained a nationwide award for his reporting and likewise labored on the corporate’s radio station, Severn Radio.
Former Shrewsbury Chronicle editor John Butterworth stated he was delighted however not shocked that Mr Holt had completed so effectively for himself.
“He was a likeable, hard-working member of the group on the Shrewsbury Chronicle, who confirmed nice aptitude,” he stated.
“I am actually not that shocked that he has gone on to do very effectively for himself.”
Mr Holt left the group in 2008 and took up a publish as a press officer with the Liberal Democrats. In 2013 he turned a media adviser to Liberal Democrat chief Nick Clegg, who was deputy prime minister within the Coalition authorities. The next yr he was promoted to go of presidency communications at Downing Avenue, once more working for the deputy PM.
He’s additionally a trustee of the African Prisons Programme, which supplies authorized coaching for each employees and inmates at jails in Kenya and Uganda.
In 2018 he gave a chat to graduates at Shrewsbury Faculty, and stated his time there helped to outline his curiosity in each journalism and politics.
“I genuinely don’t know the place I received my love of politics and journalism from, but it surely was supercharged and outlined right here at school in Shrewsbury,” he stated.
“I’d been in school at Mary Webb in Pontesbury, after which got here to school the place individuals from everywhere in the county got here collectively. All with totally different experiences and ambitions. I received my first actual style of the vibrancy of what individuals can do and have to supply. I fell in love with politics, and debate, and argument, and studying.
“I used to be by no means tutorial within the purest sense, however I really like studying from expertise and from different individuals.”
Mr Holt’s position shall be to guide the Archewell Basis’s mission to “uplift and unite communities via acts of compassion”.
He has labored for the Duke and Duchess for practically 5 years, supporting their time on the Royal Basis and as a key communications advisor to the couple’s philanthropic work.
He additionally performed a serious position within the launch and growth of Travalyst, a not-for-profit organisation based by the Duke in partnership with a number of main corporations within the journey business to create a sustainable vacationer sector which places native communities first.
Moreover, Mr Holt additionally serves on the boards of UK-based charities Justice Defenders and Inspiring Ladies.
Archewell was based by The Duke and Duchess final yr, and just lately supplied monetary assist to URL Media and the PressPad Charitable Basis, which goals to encourage variety in journalism.
It has additionally supplied assist for to organisations working in psychological effectively being and social justice, Thoughts UK and black civil rights organisation Coloration of Change.
Miss St-Laurent, who’s launching her personal new social influence agency, supported by and dealing with Archewell, turned the primary govt director of Archewell when it was launched final yr.
She was additionally the couple’s chief of employees, and it isn’t but clear who will substitute her in that position.
