Craig Oliver
Craig Oliver is currently political and communications director for David Cameron. Oliver was appointed director of communications in 2011 to replace former News of the World editor Andy Coulson as top media advisor and in May 2015 his role title was changed to political and communications director.
Mr Cameron said of his appointment: "Craig has formidable experience as a broadcast journalist. He will do an excellent job in explaining and communicating the government's programme." [1]
His job is said to be to lead efforts to sell David Cameron, the Coalition and the Conservative Party to the country. [2] After the 2015 general election Oliver took on the additional duty of implementing domestic policy.[3]
For his director of communications job, Oliver earns £140,0000 a year. [4]
Background
Born in Nottinghamshire, Oliver's family moved up to Scotland where he attended Stirling High School. There he worked as a contemporary of broadcaster Kirsty Young . Oliver went on to study at St Andrews University. After gaining a postgraduate MA in broadcast journalism, Mr Oliver got his first break as a news assistant at STV news. [5]
Mr Oliver, who is married to BBC news presenter Joanna Gosling, went on to join ITN in 1993, later becoming producer of ITV’s News at 10. His career also includes a spell as Channel 5’s programme editor and a brief stint at Channel 4 before he moved to the BBC as an editor and executive. [1]
Oliver became controller of English at BBC Global News, having previous been editor of the BBC's flagship ten o'clock news. [1]
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Craig Oliver’s first appearance on camera STV, 2 February 2011, accessed 9 October 2014
- ↑ BBC's Craig Oliver replacing Andy Coulson at No 10 BBC, 2 February 2011, accessed 15 October 2014
- ↑ Frances Perraudin Sunday Times columnist Camilla Cavendish to head No 10 policy unit Guardian 21 May 2015, accessed 26 May 2015.
- ↑ Special advisers in post, 30 November 2014 GOV.UK, accessed 28 April 2015
- ↑ Who is Craig Oliver and how will the Scot fare as David Cameron's new communications director? The Scotsman, 11 February 2011, accessed 9 October 2014
