Anji Hunter | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the House of Lords Lord Temporal | |
| Assuming office TBD | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Angela Margaret Jane Hunter 1955 (age 69–70) Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia |
| Nationality | Scottish |
| Spouses |
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| Alma mater | University of Brighton |
| Occupation | Public relations advisor |
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.
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.
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]
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]
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