A British communication pro to take care of Cathy Ashton's image
Frédéric Michel could be Cathy Ashton's "communicator". The current director for public affairs "Europe" of the group of Rupert Murdoch, New Corp (1), could be, in the first place, responsible for ensuring that the British tabloids regard the head of European diplomacy favorably, or at least don't turn it on too much. But he won't have that as a task.
With a French passport, Fred Michel is above all a Briton, well known in the alleys of Labour, in particular. Researcher at the London School of Economics and Political Science and at the University Institute of Florence, he was one of the founders, in December 2000, and first director (until 2003) of Policy Network, a think tank, watering hole for ideas for the Labor Party, and apostle of the third way implemented by Tony Blair. This think tank is today chaired by Peter Mandelson (the former Trade Commissioner, succeeded by Cathy Ashton at the European Commission). He thus defends the modernization of the left and is close, in France, to Dominique Strauss Kahn. In 2003, he became an associate partner of the consulting company Reputation Inc. Then in 2009 joined the Murdoch team.
In particular, he will have to ensure the existence of the High Representative who, for the moment, depends almost totally on the service of the spokesperson of the European Commission. Which, in my opinion, rather serves the communication of the diplomatic service and its manager than it serves it. Note also that in the first organization chart officially released a few days ago (1), the Public Diplomacy office, originally planned, has completely disappeared in favor of a simple "strategic communication" function. Position that floats in the organization chart without any attached department.
(1) The Murdoch group owns in particular: The Times, Daily Telegraph, The Sun, as well as The Wall Street Journal ou News of the World
(2) The first detailed organization chart of the new diplomatic service