John Shield is a Senior Managing Director with Teneo’s Strategy and Communications business, based in London. John advises clients on developing successful communications strategies, with a particular focus on the effective use of communications during crisis situations.
John joined Teneo from the BBC, where he had previously served as Director of Communications for the last 12 years. In that role, he was responsible for all of the BBC’s communications activity, including some very high-profile campaigns and issues.
Before joining the BBC, John had a distinguished career in Government, where he worked as the Director of Communications at a number of Whitehall departments, including the Department for Work and Pensions and the Department for Communities and Local Government. He also served as the Head of News at the Department for Education and Skills and spent periods working in both Number 10 and the Foreign Office.
John has both private and public sector experience, having been a Director at one of Britain’s largest transport businesses and the Head of Communications for news, current affairs and sport at the BBC. He was also Director of Communications at the Department for Communications and Local Government, and Head of News at the Department for Education and Skills. He has also worked at the Foreign Office and No. 10.