OREANDA-NEWS. Jaguar Land Rover announced the appointment of Chris Thorp as Land Rover's new senior manager for global public relations.

Having spent the last two years leading Nissan's PR content strategy across Europe, Mr Thorp will join Jaguar Land Rover on March 17, 2014, reporting directly to Gabi Whitfield, global PR director, Land Rover.

Mr Thorp started his career in the editorial teams of Dennis Publishing. Working his way up through the ranks, he succeeded in various roles both in print and online for Auto Express, including the positions of online editor and road test editor between 2002 and 2009.

He then made the transition to an industry-facing agency role to become editorial director of PR content provider, Newspress, gaining a thorough understanding of the broad array of stories and content packages required to meet the needs of the world's automotive media. The move to an in-house PR position came in 2012 when Nissan was seeking a manager to lead content strategy for its pan-European communications function.

Commenting on his new appointment Mr Thorp stated: “Opportunities to work for one of the world's best-known, most well-respected and fastest-growing automotive brands don't come along very often, so I'm delighted to be joining Land Rover's global team. The growth of the Jaguar Land Rover business is evident across the world, and with great products and a terrific brand there can be few more exciting places to be. I look forward to playing a part in Land Rover's future continued success.”

“Chris will be responsible for overseeing global PR activities for the Land Rover brand,” commented Ms Whitfield on her latest recruit.

“Chris brings with him a wealth of experience from both the journalist and corporate worlds and is becoming one of the industry's leading players on digital PR and content strategy. We have an extraordinary brand and extraordinary products and now a completed team with the passion and drive to create outstanding communications strategy with content and creative storytelling at its heart.”

Mr Thorp will lead the established Land Rover global communications team and be responsible for creating and delivering innovative and industry-leading PR strategy, content and PR experiential activity in key global markets.