Bristol-based communications consultancy JBP has appointed former Bristol Lord Mayor and City Council leader Simon Cook to support its public policy and stakeholder engagement activities in the West of England.
As well as a Liberal Democrat politician Simon Cook, pictured, who joins JBP as a as senior counsel, is also a former professional actor, having trained as an actor at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and spent 20 years working in theatre, film and television.
He has been a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company and appeared in many TV dramas. 
Mr Cook was elected to Bristol City Council in 1999. He most recently served as assistant mayor to George Ferguson, the city’s first elected mayor, and has also been leader, deputy leader and Lord Mayor.
During his time on the council he had a wide range of executive responsibilities including culture, business change, transport and spatial strategy. He also served on the regional council of Arts Council England and last year was awarded an MBE for services to culture.
JBP Bristol office managing director Chris Lawrance said: “Simon is a hugely respected figure in regional arts, business and political circles and will play a key strategic role in our political and stakeholder engagement work across the West of England.”
Simon Cook added: “I am delighted to be joining JBP, which has a growing reputation in the West of England and nationally as an agency that really delivers for its clients. I have worked with staff at the agency over a long period on a number of projects and look forward now to bringing my wider experience to the benefit of the company going forward.”
JBP, which also has offices in London, Manchester, Cardiff and Warwick, handles political business and community-led communications and engagement for its clients.
It says its public policy expertise helps organisations and investors know more about where policy is heading in specific areas and to influence policy development, while its stakeholder engagement was a vital element of any development.
