Anji Hunter

Anji Hunter
Born
Angela Margaret Jane Hunter

1955 (age 69–70)
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
NationalityScottish
Alma materUniversity of Brighton
OccupationPublic relations advisor
Employer(s)Tony Blair
BP
Edelman
Spouses
  • Nick Cornwall
    ​
    (m. 1980)​
  • ​
    (m. 2006)​

Angela Margaret Jane "Anji" Hunter (born 29 July 1955) is a Scottish public relations advisor. She is noted for her close partnership with former Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Early life

Hunter was born in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, then under control of the British Empire. Her father, Major Arthur John Hunter,, was a rubber plantation manager, awarded MBE for his service with the Special Operations Executive in Burma during the Second World War.

Hunter was educated at St Leonards School in St Andrews, Scotland,[1] and St. Clare's, Oxford sixth form college. She first met Tony Blair while still in Scotland, at the age of 15.[2]

She gained a first in History and English in 1988 from the University of Brighton.

Career

After graduating, Hunter began working for Tony Blair, now an MP, as his political assistant.[1] She became Director of Government Relations for Blair's government in 1997,[1] and was described as "the most influential non-elected person in Downing Street".

In 2001 she left Downing Street to become Director of Communications at the oil and gas company BP in 2002.[3] In 2009 she was appointed Director of External Affairs for Anglo American plc.[4] She is a board member of the Snowdon Trust, founded by the Earl of Snowdon, which provides grants and scholarships for students with disabilities.[5] She is also serves on the advisory board of the Birmingham Business School.[6]

In 2013 Hunter joined the international public relations and marketing consultancy Edelman to advise clients on corporate reputation, crisis management and public affairs, as well as helping promote senior women in business.[7][8]

In December 2024 it was announced that Hunter had been nominated for a peerage and would be joining the House of Lords.[9]

Personal life

Hunter married the landscape gardener Nick Cornwall in 1980.[1] The couple had two children. In November 2001 it was announced that she was leaving Downing Street to join BP as its director of communications.[10] In July of 2002, it was reported that Hunter was in a relationship with the political editor of Sky News Adam Boulton. Cornwall and Hunter subsequently divorced.[11][12] Hunter married Boulton in 2006.[13]

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Blair's closest aide resigns". BBC News Online. 8 November 2001. Retrieved 25 July 2010.
  2. ^ Julia Langdon "Profile: Anji Hunter, Blair's Other Woman", The Observer, 1 April 2001
  3. ^ "Anji Hunter quits No 10". The Daily Telegraph. 9 November 2001. Archived from the original on 4 September 2010. Retrieved 25 July 2010.
  4. ^ "Anglo American appoints Anji Hunter as Group Head of Government and Social Affairs". 26 May 2009.
  5. ^ "Our board". The Snowdon Trust. Archived from the original on 1 March 2013. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
  6. ^ "Advisory Board". Birmingham University. Retrieved 6 December 2024.
  7. ^ Mattinson, Alec (25 July 2013). "Tony Blair's former comms chief Anji Hunter to join Edelman". PR Week. Retrieved 16 February 2019.
  8. ^ "Anji Hunter: In some ways I'm sorry because we women made it look like it was all easy - and it really isn't". Evening Standard. London. 13 December 2013. Retrieved 16 February 2019.
  9. ^ "UK Gov, Press Release, Political Peerages December 2024".
  10. ^ "Blair's closest aide resigns". BBC News Online. 8 November 2001.
  11. ^ Martin, Nicole (15 July 2002). "Woman who chose Blair's ties leaves family for Sky man". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 16 February 2019.
  12. ^ Trelford, Donald (17 July 2002). "Downing Street's heavy breathers". Evening Standard. London. Retrieved 16 February 2019.
  13. ^ Chittenden, Maurice; Elliott, John (23 July 2006). "Adam and Anji's power wedding". London: The Sunday Times. Retrieved 7 May 2011.[dead link‍]