Rishi Sunak has hired ITV’s Head of News to lead his Downing Street media operation.
Amber de Botton will depart the broadcaster, where she is Head of UK News, to join the Prime Minister’s team as Director of Communications.
She has previously held the positions of Head of Home News and Head of Politics.
Of Ms de Botton, ITV colleague Robert Peston said: “She is a brilliant news editor and journalist, and leaves a huge hole at ITV News.”
It’s not the first time Mr Sunak has drawn his communications team from ITV’s news and politics team.
Allegra Stratton left ITV News in April 2020 to become then-Chancellor Mr Sunak’s Director of Strategic Communications.
Six months later Ms Stratton moved to number as Press Secretary, before ultimately resigning after video emerged of her joking with other members of No10’s press team about a Downing Street Christmas Party held during Covid lockdown.
The video was first published by ITV News.
The high-profile hire comes the morning after Mr Sunak was confronted by an angry pensioner during a hospital photo opportunity in London.
The same day his team released promo video, which sparked a Twitter trend because the background music was similar to a Gary Glitter song.
Previously famed for his slick media operations, Mr Sunak was criticised on the night he was named as the next Prime Minister for an awkward, robotic performance in a televised statement.
