The World Gold Council, the market development organisation for the gold industry, announced today the appointment of Brenda Bates as its Director of Communications. Mrs Bates will have overall responsibility for the strategic development of the World Gold Council’s communications across all markets, effective immediately. She will report directly to Aram Shishmanian, CEO of the World Gold Council, and will be based in London.

Prior to her appointment to the World Gold Council, Mrs Bates was Director of Communications at BPP, University College of Professional Education. At BPP she was responsible for the team which delivered a multi-channel communications strategy that successfully promoted BPP as the first private for profit university to be awarded university college status in the UK.

Previously Mrs Bates worked as an independent consultant specialising in asset management and professional services firms. She also ran the specialist financial PR firm, Mainland PR, with Neil Mainland, facilitating a merger with Broadgate PR in 2009. At Mainland clients included Artemis, Jupiter, Lazard, JO Hambro and VAM funds. Her in house corporate communications expertise and experience was gained at Aon, where Mrs Bates was a UK board director and responsible for all aspects of corporate marketing and communications, including brand. Prior to Aon, Mrs. Bates was a Managing Director at the communications consultancy Gavin Anderson & Company, working with a range of corporate and financial clients including; Scottish Provident, Russell Reynolds Associates, British Energy, Gartmore, Barclays Bank, Unigate, Austin Reed and Southern Water.

Aram Shishmanian, CEO of the World Gold Council, said:

“Brenda is a highly accomplished communicator and brings to the World Gold Council a wealth of experience and expertise that will help the organisation to continue to build its profile with key partners and audiences around the world. We are delighted that Brenda is joining us at a time when gold’s importance and influence with investors, central bankers, politicians, industry, jewellers and consumers continues to grow”.
Brenda Bates commented:

“Gold touches the lives of all of us on a daily basis and my decision to join the World Gold Council is a reflection not only on the importance of gold, but also on the importance of the World Gold Council’s position as a pre-eminent authority on the gold market and the future uses of gold in society”.

For further information please contact:

Stephanie Mackrell
World Gold Council
T +44 20 7826 4763
E [email protected]

Quintin Keanie
Capital MSL
T+44 20 7255 5154
E [email protected]