PR guru Rudd quits WH Ireland board

PR supremo Roland Rudd is stepping down from the board of Manchester stockbroker WH Ireland.

The company said Mr Rudd, who was a non-executive director, is resigning because of “other work commitments”.

Richard Ford, chief executive of WH Ireland, said: “We have been immensely fortunate to have had Roland’s guidance and encouragement over the past year and we are delighted to have his continued support as a shareholder.”

A former journalist at the FT who began his career as a  researcher and speech writer for the then MP David Owen, Mr Rudd set up financial PR firm Finsbury in 1994 with Rupert Younger, whom he met at a premiere of Four Weddings and a Funeral.

He went on to sell the business in 1999 to WPP for £50m.

Earlier this year, WH Ireland founders Laurie Beavers and David Youngman left the business after weeks of upheaval at WH Ireland sparked by an abortive merger with Blue Oar.