Charles Russell PR man to sit on board

Corporate and private client firm Charles Russell is believed to be the first City law firm to promote a marketeer to a managerial role.

Marketing director Simon Slater has been made operations director of the 56 partner firm with responsibility for personnel and training, know-how and information services as well as marketing.

He will sit on the management board together with newly-appointed finance director Andy Staite, managing partner Patrick Russell and a new senior partner.

Current senior partner John South will retire as a partner on 30 April but will remain as a consultant. It is understood the firm will shortly announce the election of a new senior partner.

Slater described his new role as "effectively the managing director, working alongside the managing partner Patrick Russell".

He will also sit on the business development board, which makes strategic decisions and includes the head of corporate Mark Moncreiffe and the head of private capital W Paul Harriman.