Ann Rossiter
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This article is part of the Revolving Door project of Spinwatch. |
Ann Rossiter was director of Social Market Foundation, a "Blairite" think tank headquartered in London from 2005 until 2008 when she became special adviser to John Denham, MP and secretary of state for Innovation, Universities and Skills.[1]In August 2010 Rossiter was appointed executive director of The Society of College, National and University Libraries. [2]
In the early days of her directorship at SMF she categorised the think tank as "ideologically difficult to place." It had been resolutely “Blairite” in its policy lines in the past, plus it still has not shrugged its pro-Tory, right-leaning origins. Rossiter said the SMF’s focus was on the labour market and low earners. Yet, she seemed coy on key questions about government size and taxation needed to support services. “We have the ear of government because we have independence,” says Rossiter. “We don't have an agenda.” [3]
Rossiter may have brought new “clout” to the firm as she came with notoriety. During the “Blair Babes” era (Reeves, 2008), Rossiter was his speechwriter. Additional popularity came when public relations firm AS Biss named her one of the “ten political stars of the future. [4]
Career
Rossiter joined SMF as its research director in July 2003 and became director in July 2005. Before working there she spent four years as a director of Fishburn Hedges, the corporate communications consultancy, and of Lexington Communications [5] It is owned by advertising giant, Abbott Mead Vickers.
She originally began her career in political research and programming at the BBC, where she worked for four years. She later worked in parliament for MPs John Denham and Glenda Jackson on pensions and transport policy. She drew up Labour party policy on stakeholder pensions in the early 1990s. [6]
Notes
- ↑ Social Market Foundation SMF Director to Leave for New Role, press release 7 August 2008, (accessed 13 September 2010).
- ↑ Social Market Foundation SCONUL Announces Appointment of Ann Rossiter as new Executive Director], press release 7 August 2008, (accessed 13 September 2010).
- ↑ Nick Mathiason, Mammon, The marketing of Blairism: Nick Mathiason meets Ann Rossiter, head of the Social Market Foundation think-tank, and leading light in the Third Way, The Observer, 31 July 2005, accessed 13 September 2010.
- ↑ PR Week, Decade-old AS Biss names ten to watch, accessed 13 September 2010.
- ↑ "Thinktanks: Do great minds think alike?", The Guardian, 27 April 2008.
- ↑ Nick Mathiason, Mammon, The marketing of Blairism: Nick Mathiason meets Ann Rossiter, head of the Social Market Foundation think-tank, and leading light in the Third Way, The Observer, 31 July 2005, accessed 13 September 2010.
