Managing director at Grandfield

Corporate communications consultancy Grandfield has appointed Julie Giddens as managing director of its design division.

The move comes as part of restructure which sees Grandfield’s three divisions – public relations, public affairs and design – operating as individual companies. Giddens, who was formerly creative director, becomes a shareholder of Grandfield and assumes full responsibility for Grandfield Design.

“Each of the divisions will operate autonomously with Grandfield taking on the role of a holding company,” says Giddens. The three companies have not been registered independently, but now have separate accounting systems, she adds.

Giddens says registering the businesses independently has not been ruled out. “It’s a distinct possibility within the next 12 to 18 months,” she says.

“The decision to operate independently comes because we are winning a lot of design business in our own right,” she adds.

Giddens retains the responsibilities of creative director but the consultancy may promote someone to the post from within.