Stephen Lotinga is to succeed Richard Mollet as chief executive of the Publishers Association, the U.K. advocacy group for publishers. He will take up the post on January 18.
Lotinga is joining the PA from the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman. Until May 2015 he was director of communications to the deputy prime minister, Nick Clegg, and before that worked in public affairs within various large agencies.
Mollet, whose departure was announced last September, is leaving the PA to become head of European government affairs at RELX Group.
PA president Joanna Prior said: "Stephen's communications skills, combined with his inside track on the workings of government, will make him an effective advocate for our industry. He has a keen interest in our industry but at the same time will bring an outsider's fresh perspective to our issues."
Lotinga described the appointment as "a great honor." He continued: "The Publishers Association has a vital role to play informing political and public debates on issues affecting the industry."
A version of this story originally appeared in the U.K. trade publication BookBrunch.
