ross davidson

communications director

About

As I was interested in the news and media from my teens, becoming a journalist was my aim from fairly early on in my life. After studying at Glasgow Caledonian University, I learnt the ropes as a trainee news reporter at the Press & Journal in Aberdeen, my local newspaper growing up. Three years and a move to the paper’s business desk later, I was covering industries across the north-east of Scotland including energy, transport, food and drink and retail. In 2013 I made the move from journalism to public relations, joining the FTSE 100-listed utility Centrica. After Centrica's E&P business combined with Bayerngas Norge to form Spirit Energy, I joined the new company and today, I share our teams’ stories and achievements with national, regional and trade media. In between talking about new innovations and technology to find sources of energy, I happily also get to take the likes of Blue Peter offshore to see the oil and gas industry up close and inspire the next generation of British engineers.

Country

united kingdom

City

london

Industry

oil & energy

Skill

media relations, corporate communications, copywriting, press releases, internal communications, marketing communications, editing, marketing strategy, news writing, social media, public relations, crisis communications, feature articles, journalism, newspapers

Experience

senior public relations manager

spirit energy

2017-12 - 2018-9 · 10 mos

Leading Spirit Energy's media relations, political engagement and community outreach in the UK and the Netherlands, as well our global digital communications channels and activity.

external communications manager

centrica energy

2013-8 - 2016-6 · 2 yrs 11 mos

Focused on supporting Centrica Energy's Exploration & Production business, securing local, national and trade media coverage and engaging with the communities where we operate in the UK and the Netherlands.

news reporter

aberdeen journals

2008-6 - 2011-2 · 2 yrs 9 mos

Working initially as a trainee news reporter before becoming a senior reporter, covering local news in and around Aberdeen including crime, politics and community issues.

communications director

spirit energy

2018-9 - Present · 8 yrs 1 mo

I lead Spirit Energy’s Communications team, providing both strategic guidance on our internal communications approach and overseeing our external affairs and digital communications work with media, political and industry stakeholders.

business reporter

aberdeen journals

2011-2 - 2013-8 · 2 yrs 7 mos

Covering business stories across the north and north-east of Scotland, specialising in the energy, retail, food and drink and travel sectors and with a particular focus on expanding the newspaper's business coverage of Highlands and Islands industry.

senior public relations manager

centrica

2016-7 - 2017-12 · 1 yr 6 mos

Working as part of Centrica's Corporate Affairs team, I led on media relations for the Exploration & Production business in the UK and the Netherlands, working with journalists at local, national and trade outlets on stories affecting our oil and gas operations. I also supported media outreach on Centrica's key financial announcements, including preliminary and interim financial results, as well as leading on external engagement around the creation of Spirit Energy, the joint venture formed following the combination of Centrica's E&P business and Bayerngas Norge AS.