BRChas appointed Stephen Bethel as corporate affairs director

The BRC has appointed Stephen Bethel as its corporate affairs director

The BRC has appointed former BAE Systems and Ministry of Defence spin doctor Stephen Bethel to head its corporate affairs operations.

Bethel spent his early career at the Department for Transport and MoD before going on to hold senior positions at the aircraft system manufacturer, as well as Bombardier and Bupa.

He will lead the BRC’s communications and political engagement team with its three priority campaigns: A Fair Brexit for Consumers; fundamental reform of business rates; and Retail 2020, a bid to improve jobs in the industry amid structural change in retail.

BRC chief executive Helen Dickinson said: “The depth and breadth of Stephen’s experience will be valuable as we work with our members through a period of profound political and economic change in the UK, and further strengthen the BRC’s voice on priority issues for the retail industry.”

Bethel added: “The BRC has a strong track record of making a positive difference for the retail industry and the customers it serves. This is an exciting time to lead the next stage of this work against a backdrop of unprecedented transformation in the industry and an unpredictable political environment in the UK.”