Merlin hires Diageo’s Crampton as corporate affairs lead
Merlin Entertainments, which includes visitor attractions Alton Towers, LEGOLAND and Madame Tussauds, has hired Diageo’s James Crampton to the newly created position of corporate affairs director.
Reporting into Alistair Windybank, the group’s IR and 
corporate affairs director, Crampton will have primary responsibility for media relations and internal comms across the group. He will also manage wider non-financial stakeholder relationships.
Windybank said: “As Merlin continues to grow and invest, we have to strengthen our corporate affairs capability accordingly. I am delighted James has agreed to join our team.”
“He has more than 15 years in international external communications roles with strong experience in both media relations and wider stakeholder engagement. His experience of working at a Group level in companies which own a range of high-profile consumer brands will prove invaluable as we move forward.”
At Guinness brand-owner Diageo, Crampton held the position of global external communications director and communications and sustainability director, Diageo Africa. Prior to this, he held senior comms positions at both Old Mutual and brewer SAB Miller.
Crampton added: “This is a very exciting time to be joining Merlin; a great British success story which is continuing to expand around the world.
“It’s a great opportunity in this new role to help reinforce Merlin’s leadership position in the entertainment industry and ensure the company, its strategy, its achievements and its ambitions are widely understood. I’m looking forward to working with Alistair and the rest of the team towards the goal of making Merlin one of the most respected companies in its sector.”
Brunswick won Merlin’s financial PR account at the end of last year.
