Clients of the team include Lloyds TSB Wealth & International, Eversheds, Odgers, Emblaze, Ariya Capital, City Financial and Brookland.

Harrison brings 14 years’ experience of working both in-house and agency in the City. Most recently she was communications director at TLG and V-P corporate communications and public affairs at The Blackstone Group. She has also held senior roles at Standard & Poors Fund Services and Fitch. She started her career at PR agencies, Rostron Parry and Ludgate and has more recently worked with Merlin PR.

In a related move, Grayling Director, Yvonne Maher is taking up the role of director, Energy & Industry, to focus on building the agency’s UK Energy Practice, whose clients include National Grid, ABB and Pelamis. Maher currently leads Grayling’s Nabucco Gas Pipeline and OMV accounts and previously worked in-house for ExxonMobil in Brussels.

Harrison and Maher will both report to Mary Whenman, managing director of Grayling’s Corporate & Financial practice.

“As part of our growth strategy we are focussing our offer around Energy & Industry and Financial & Professional Services,” said Whenman.

“Sophia brings with her a wealth of experience in financial services as well as financial PR and deepens our expertise in institutional finance,” continued Whenman.

“My move to Grayling follows a recent consulting role working with the Corporate & Financial team so I am excited at joining a highly talented group of professionals and continuing to build on the success of the group,” added Sophia.

Sophia can be reached at sophia.harrison@grayling.com.