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Former regional daily business editor takes up new PR role

Chris ParryThe managing editor of a regional business news service is to leave the company for a new PR role.

Chris Barry has joined the Influential agency as PR director of its Manchester office, having spent the past seven years as managing editor of TheBusinessDesk.com in the North West, Yorkshire and Midlands.

Prior to that, Chris spent a decade as business editor of the Manchester Evening News.

He began his working life at the Press Association, where he spent two years, having graduated from the University of Warwick with a degree in English and American Literature.

Said Chris: “After more than 20 years in journalism, it was a really big decision to move. I know I have found the right ‘home’ at Influential – I think its vision for growth, the calibre of its people, quality of clients and the fantastic results it delivers, set the agency apart.

“I’m very excited about this new chapter in my career.”

His brief at Influential will be focused on business to business PR campaigns.

Sara Wilde-McKeown, Influential managing director, said: “Chris is one of the most respected business journalists in the North of England whose market insight and work ethic are known to all who have encountered him.

“He is a genuine character with a tough but fair modus operandi. These qualities, along with his professional integrity have over many years earnt him in the position of being a trusted figure with civic and business leaders, able to secure exclusive after exclusive. He is deeply rooted in the business community, a son of Manchester and someone who can help us grow Influential.”

Chris will take up the new role in March.

3 comments

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  • January 7, 2016 at 1:22 pm
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    I’m always impressed how senior journos go straight in at the top at these agencies, whereas the grunts – no matter how long they’ve been doing the job – always end up writing press releases about bog rolls, while being told ‘it’s a different skillset’ and you have to start at the bottom.

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  • January 7, 2016 at 5:08 pm
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    Good luck Chris. He’s a top bloke & that’s a really good agency he’s going to. Not surprised he chose to join them rather than one of the many other PR agencies that would have bitten his hand off – the business is run and owned by former newspaper people. The md is an ex Trinity Mirror managing director and one of the other directors is the former deputy editor of the Liverpool Echo. So the kind of people Chris will get on with I’d say.

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  • January 8, 2016 at 8:43 pm
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    Ex-hack goes into PR shock.

    **Yawns**

    I’m sure he’s a nice guy, but PR? Yet another non-story about yet another former journalist’s wholly predictable “career move”.

    Having said that, good luck nonetheless.

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