Chris Salt, HeadLand's co-founding partner and CEO, said: “It is clear that the world is different and the game has changed for business. New eras need new people and fresh approaches. It is our firm belief that the business world should ground everything it does in the dual context of a rapidly-changing commercial environment and greater public expectation of improved corporate behaviour.

“For us that means we will broaden our offering and expertise to provide frank advice to companies and organisations seeking to address new social and commercial challenges. Neil and Dan will play a huge part in this accelerated development at HeadLand."

Neil Hedges commented: "I've enjoyed my 'terrace leave' following my departure from Fishburn Hedges last year, but the plants are now well-established and I'm ready to go back full-time into consultancy.

"I've always believed that good corporate communications must be founded on an equal understanding of the City and the wider public - even more so now. Our task at HeadLand will be to help attract and develop broader expertise alongside the firm’s existing City focus. Dan and I share the HeadLand team’s beliefs that business needs to evaluate and understand the implications of changed public opinion and to act accordingly.”

Both Neil and Dan left Fishburn Hedges last summer after twenty and sixteen years at the firm respectively. Neil founded the agency with Dale Fishburn in 1991 with other founding directors from Valin Pollen. The firm was acquired in 1996 by advertising agency Abbott Mead Vickers, which in turn joined the Omnicom group. Dan was formerly finance director of the Fishburn Hedges group and latterly helped develop the group's emerging businesses Seventy Seven, Further and Brew.

Founded in 2005 by Howard Lee and Chris Salt, HeadLand is an independent financial communications and corporate reputation management consultancy with offices in London and Paris. Chris and Howard were both formerly directors at Gavin Anderson, but Howard previously worked with Neil at Valin Pollen.

Neil and Dan can be reached at nhedges@headlandconsultancy.co.uk and dmines@headlandconsultancy.co.uk respectively.