Hardy New Recruit To Nissan PR Team

LONDON – Aug 10, 2012: There are two new faces in the Nissan Press office. Sam Hardy joins as the new Product Communications Manager, while Laura Walton will be with us for a year as part of her university degree course.

Sam has made the familiar hop across the fence from journalism into PR, bringing with him a heap of experience. He spent 11 years as a motoring journalist, beginning his career at Car magazine, moving to Fleet Week and then onto Auto Express.

Sam replaces Terry Steeden who has taken up a new position at Nissan's luxury brand Infiniti, where he is UK Communications Manager.

Sam will be journalists’ first point of contact for all internal-combustion Nissan cars, including those which go around in circles on race tracks.

Tom Barnard, Communications Director, said: "It’s great to have snaffled Sam. He knows what journalists need, has lots of energy and is full of ideas. With so many launches planned over the next few months, we’ll make sure he doesn’t get bored.”

Sam said: "It's incredibly exciting to be joining Nissan at this time and I'm really proud to be given the opportunity. With a factory in Sunderland, engineering centre at Cranfield and Paddington design studio, there are many stories to tell. And with so many new cars on the way, it's going to be very busy indeed."

Meanwhile, Laura Walton will be joining us for the next twelve months as part of her Marketing and Management degree at the University of Newcastle. She will be taking care of press office administration and internal communications.

A true Geordie, she had never crossed the Tyne until she helped us out on our Rising Sunderland event earlier this year. Now that’s dedication to your home town.