A former regional daily editor who also served as a BBC trustee for eight years has been given senior roles at two sister PR companies.

Alison Hastings, left, was editor of the Newcastle Chronicle from 1996 to 2002 and a member of the BBC Trust from 2006 until last year.

Now she has been appointed a specialist partner at crisis PR and issues management firm Alder Media and a member of the advisory board at sister agency, Pagefield communications.

The two communications consultancies work regularly with one another, offering support on specific issues for existing clients or recommending each other for their respective specialisms.

At Alder Media, Alison will be advising clients on strategic reputation management, while at Pagefield, she will join the consultancy’s advisory board which offers direct advice to specific clients, together with training and support in the political and media arenas.

The appointments were announced by Tim Toulmin, Managing Director of Alder Media and a former director of the Press Complaints Commission, on which Alison also served.

Said Tim: “I am delighted that Alison is joining us. She has senior experience at the UK’s leading media organisations and has been a trusted adviser to many of the country’s highest profile business and media figures.

“Having worked with her before at the Press Complaints Commission, I know that her strategic insight and impressive network of contacts are second to none.”

Mark Gallagher, senior partner and founder of Pagefield, added: “Alison and I worked on our first campaign together in 2004. Her knowledge of local and regional media has always been exceptional, but she has since built and extended this expertise to cover national press and broadcasting.

“She’s a really strong addition to an already outstanding board.”

Alison said: “Both Alder Media and Pagefield have quickly established reputations as leaders in their fields, and I am looking forward to working with Tim, Mark and their teams on the broad range of complex issues that clients face”.