Triple S Group hires FA’s Mark Whittle to lead PR company
Triple S Group, the management group for Wayne Rooney, has appointed the FA’s former head of media, Mark Whittle, as MD of its newly-formed PR company, Triple S Communications.
Wayne Rooney with Mark Whittle
Triple S Communications will provide PR and media solutions for a range of “high-profile” individuals, brands and organisations in the sports, business and entertainment sectors.
The team will build on an existing roster of in-house clients, which includes Wayne Rooney, the England and Manchester United captain.
Whittle spent 11 years at the FA, where he advised four England managers on their media and commercial responsibilities – from the World Cup in Germany 2006 to the recent Euro 2016 Championships. He was also responsible for the PR of the England squad.
Whittle also handled corporate comms activity around the delayed re-opening of Wembley Stadium in 2007.
Before the FA, he held senior comms roles at ITV and the BBC. He also worked at Downing Street during Tony Blair’s premiership.
Whittle departed the FA after the European Championships in France this summer to set up Triple S Communications.
Whittle said: “I’m very excited to join the Triple S Group and to be working with such an ambitious and successful team. Their brand and reputation in sport is huge.”
Paul Stretford, group MD at TSEG, said: “We are delighted to appoint someone of Mark’s calibre to the Triple S team. He will help expand our business across the thriving UK public relations, sport and entertainment industries. Given his pedigree he will bring our clients a level of expertise that very few competitors can provide.”
London-based Triple S Communications will work in tandem with Red Lantern Digital Media, which is already part of the Triple S Sports & Entertainment Group (TSEG).
Red Lantern provides bespoke digital media services in Asia for rights-holders such as the Premier League, Wimbledon Tennis and the PGA European Tour.
Stretford added: “The group led the way utilising the power of social media in football. Wayne Rooney now engages with more than 40 million followers across his personal channels – all thanks to the work of the current in-house digital team and Red Lantern’s international connections.”
