The board of Huntsworth announced the appointment of Paul Taaffe as chief executive, succeeding Lord Chadlington, 72, who announced his retirement earlier this year. Paul Taaffe has wide experience in public relations, communications and marketing - most recently as Director of Communications at Groupon. Previously Mr. Taaffe had a twenty year career at Hill and Knowlton, Inc, where he was chairman and chief executive officer for eight years.

Lord Chadlington will stand down from the Huntsworth Board as soon as Paul Taaffe is in post but will continue in a client facing role as group senior adviser. As announced at the company's 2014 AGM on 24th June and subsequently on 14th July, 2014, Sally Withey, Huntsworth's chief operating officer and finance director, has been seriously unwell and on leave from the office. The company has now agreed with her that her employment with the company will end on 31st December, 2014 and she will step down from the board on that date.

Brian Porritt, Huntsworth's interim finance director, will continue in that role while the board institutes a search for a new finance director.