LONDON — Tech agency Tyto has hired BBC communications manager Dave Turnbull as a partner and practice head.

In six years at the BBC, Turnbull led PR campaigns for digital products including BBC iPlayer and BBC Online, enterprise technology and research and development. He worked with the BBC’s leading technologists including the CTO to drive its move into mobile, virtual reality, AR, AI, Ultra HD, 5G, and voice assistants.

He also led communications around the BBC’s flagship BBC micro:bit project, a partnership between the BBC and 29 organisations, including ARM, Microsoft and Samsung, helping children to learn essential computing skills.

Before joining the BBC, Turnbull spent four years at global technology agency Hotwire, working with clients including Vodafone, O2, Seagate and Auto Trader

Tyto managing partner Brendon Craigie, who founded the "PR without borders" agency in October 2017 after 16 years at Hotwire, latterly as group CEO, told the Holmes Report: “Dave is a fantastic communicator who is strong on media, telecoms and emerging technologies, and has handled huge stories at the BBC. He is a real expert into translating tech innovation that into stories that get a high profile across media and social.”

Turnbull, who started work this week, will be looking after Tyto clients including payments fintech Laybuy. He said: “It’s an incredibly exciting time to join Tyto, having achieved so much in its first year and the future looks incredibly bright. I was impressed with the culture and its approach to solving business challenges in highly strategic and creative ways, so it was a perfect fit.”