David Wheal

Head of Media, David Wheal is a journalist, broadcaster and public relations practitioner and has led Media Counsellors since 1994.

A former BBC World Service newsreader and television presenter, he has worked extensively in the broadcasting world for nearly twenty years and was head of the BBC’s team of media trainers advising senior Foreign and Commonwealth Office diplomats in interview and presentation skills.

Since 1994 he has worked in the public and corporate sector, training executives in press, television and radio interview techniques, as well as presentation and communication skills. He has trained more than 1000 senior managers, mostly in the food, petrochemical and financial sectors and been engaged by over 100 of the UK’s and global top companies.

David has helped many major companies with the development of crisis management strategies and has advised multi-national organisations in more than 30 countries. He was a member of McDonald’s crisis management team for 15 years and conducted crisis training for Shell and several pharmaceutical companies.

In developing the digital practice, David, has spent a great deal of time advising organisations on how digital media is increasingly playing a major role in corporate communications. He has authored white papers on the future of corporate social media and the roles of Digital Messengers and Brand Ambassadors. He has also created a series of social media training modules which focus on corporate reputation in a digital environment and social media crisis management.