Woolf and the two additional hires, Ella Henderson and Patrick Storey, will deepen Nepean’s ability to help leaders with their strategic decision making. The addition of public affairs and policy expertise signals Nepean’s intent to bring together all the ingredients to deliver the highest quality reputation advice and delivery in the market.   Nepean is an advisory firm creating value for clients by helping them understand and take control of their reputation. We combine our experience and judgement with research and reputation data to deliver actionable insight that helps clients with their positioning, persuasion and protection.  

The latest hires follow Nepean’s appointment of John Sunnucks, one of the most experienced financial communications practitioners in the industry, as Senior Adviser in August this year.  

Nepean Founder and Managing Partner Gavin Davis said: “Our business is to deliver the highest quality insights that enable us to advise on action and engagement that will drive meaningful outcomes for our clients. With Woolf and this expanded offering, we have added vital politics and policy capability. One team making a positive difference to our clients’ reputations.” 

Woolf brings with him a breadth of experience in strategic communications as well as specific expertise in policy and public affairs. Most recently he co-led his previous agency’s policy and public affairs team, founding the practice area, building the team and servicing clients from the largest infrastructure project in Europe to one of the UK’s financial regulators. He has also worked more broadly in corporate strategic communications supporting clients across a variety of sectors on transaction communications, crises and reputation management. He previously worked in Parliament as an adviser to the Liberal Democrats in the House of Lords and later the Conservative Party. 

Woolf Thomson Jones added: “The trend for ever more government involvement in business, kickstarted in Covid, continues under the new Government. Politics is treading ever more heavily on business. Understanding this world - regulation and the machinations of government - has never been more important to business operations, reputation and developing communications strategies.  

“The work ethic and ambition at Nepean is unbelievable, and our shared view on bringing one reputational perspective to clients and the benefit of boutique advisory is one and the same. I can’t wait to get going and to support the growth of the business with the team.” 

Patrick Storey will join as a Senior Consultant and brings specific Labour Party experience and insight from his time as an adviser to Lord Adonis. Patrick has worked on significant political campaigns and regulatory insights projects across a broad range of sectors from clean energy to financial services.  

Ella Henderson will also join as a Senior Consultant. Ella rose quickly through the ranks of her previous firm, after joining as a Graduate to be a standout communications practitioner and adviser, specialising in financial services and luxury goods, supporting clients from large asset managers to Japan’s largest bank. Ella is also fluent in Japanese.