Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have hired a brand manager as their UK spokesman in a new shake-up.
Charlie Gipson, who previously represented companies Mars, Cadbury and Dominos, will now serve as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's main point of contact.
Gipson, 41, has launched “delicious new treats for Mars”, covered Crufts with Pedigree and once dressed up as Pudsey the Bear for Children In Need, according to his LinkedIn profile.
The new member of the Sussexes' team will serve as the couple’s main point of contact for all UK and European media, working alongside their US-based PR team.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have had another shake-up in their team
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This includes global press secretary Ashley Hansen and newly recruited deputy press secretary Kyle Boulia, both based in Los Angeles.
Gipson is said to have “excelled in media relations and strategic communication planning” for clients including Samsung and Instagram.
Harry, 39, and Meghan, 42, have had a relatively high turnover with their communications advisers, with notable departures including Christine Schirmer, who stepped down as Head of Communications but was kept as an adviser.
The couple also pivoted on their initial refusal to deal with the British tabloids.
Kyle Boulia [right] will handle communications for Sussexes in LA as he is their Deputy Press Secretary and Director of Communications for US media
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Their current team instead recognises it is more conducive to keep open lines of communication.
The duke and duchess opted not to keep any UK-based staff when they moved abroad in January 2020, instead building a team in California.
They employed former Palace staff Clara Loughran and Beth Herlihy on a freelance basis to work on charity projects in the UK.
However, the continued interest in the couple in the UK prompted their advisers to search for a UK-based PR team to better deal with queries in another time zone.
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ReutersIn recent weeks, Gipson removed much of his personal history from the internet, including his LinkedIn page and social media profiles.
He describes himself as a “senior PR & Events specialist with over 15 years experience in consumer comms”.
Boulia, who will now serve as the Sussexes' main point of contact in the US, previously spent six years working for United Talent Agency.
Meanwhile, former director of global communications, Miranda Barbot, has been promoted to Vice President of Programs and Media Operations.
