Lansons Moves into Regulatory Consulting with Hobbs hire

_{Pictured (L to R): Ben Abbotts, Ralph Jackson, Richard Hobbs & Tony Langham}

Lansons Communications has recruited former Beachcroft Regulatory Consulting Managing Director Richard Hobbs to join its re-branded Lansons Public Affairs and Regulatory Consulting practice. Hobbs joins Lansons as a Board Director and will bring his existing clients to the consultancy. At Lansons he will establish a Regulatory Consulting capability and offer those services across Lansons’ 70+ financial services clients.

Richard Hobbs founded Beachcroft Regulatory Consulting in 2002 and left late last year. Previously he worked in the Insurance Directorate of the Department of Trade and Industry as the Director responsible for the reconstruction of the Lloyd’s insurance market and was Head of Life and Pensions at the Association of British Insurers for three and a half years.

Commenting on the move Lansons Chief Executive Tony Langham said: “We’re delighted to be working with someone of Richard’s stature and expertise. Relations with the FSA form a key part of the public relations of almost every financial services company. Richard’s hire adds considerable teeth to our expanding corporate communications capability.”

Richard Hobbs added: “This is the time to start up a regulatory consultancy with so much going on. Linking regulatory consulting to public affairs should appeal to clients. Lansons has a great client base; this is a very exciting opportunity.”

In Lansons Public Affairs and Regulatory Consulting practice (formerly Lansons Public Affairs) Richard will work alongside Lansons Head of Public Affairs Ben Abbotts. Ben added: "In this election year, with regulatory reform dominating financial services public affairs, Richard’s appointment highlights Lansons ambition for 2010 and gives our clients what they want - access to expertise in political and, now, regulatory risk."

Lansons is structured into four virtual practices: Corporate, Brand & Consumer, Financial Services and Lansons Live. Public Affairs and Regulatory Consulting forms part of the Corporate Practice.

For more information on the services offered by the team , please contact richardh@lansons.com in relation to regulatory matters or bena@lansons.com in relation to political matters.