Robbie Gibb

Sir Robbie Paul Gibb (born September 1964)[1] is a British public relations professional, political advisor, and broadcast journalist.[2]

Sir Robbie Gibb
Downing Street Director of Communications
In office
6 July 2017 – 24 July 2019
Prime MinisterTheresa May
Preceded byKatie Perrior
Succeeded byLee Cain
Personal details
Born
Robbie Paul Gibb

1964 (age 56–57)
NationalityBritish
Spouse(s)Liz
RelationsNick Gibb (brother)
Children2
Alma materRoyal Holloway, University of London
OccupationPublic relations professional • political advisor • broadcast journalist

Robbie Gibb, brother of Conservative MP Nick Gibb, was the head of the BBC's political programme output before leaving the BBC in July 2017 to become Director of Communications at 10 Downing Street.

Early life

Gibb was born in September 1964 and attended Royal Holloway, University of London.

Journalism career

Gibb is a former editor of the BBC's Sunday Politics and Daily Politics programmes.

Gibb was head of BBC Westminster, in overall charge of the BBC’s political programme output - Daily and Sunday Politics, The Andrew Marr Show, This Week and Radio 4’s Westminster Hour. Prior to joining the political team at Westminster he was deputy editor of BBC Two’s Newsnight.

During the 2016 EU referendum campaign Gibb was editor of The Great Debate at Wembley Arena. He also edited the BBC's 2017 general election debate.

In August 2020 it was reported that he was a leading light behind GB News – a new television channel[3] which had been licensed (by the broadcasting regulator Ofcom) in January of the same year,[4] and will aim to begin broadcasting in 2021.

Political roles

Gibb was a political advisor and Chief of Staff to the then Shadow Chancellor Francis Maude. He played a leading role in Michael Portillo’s unsuccessful campaign to be leader of the Conservative Party.[5][6]

In July 2017, it was announced that Gibb would become Director of Communications at 10 Downing Street following the departure of Katie Perrior.[7][5] Gibb is a long standing supporter of Brexit.[8] In April 2019, he was accused by former Conservative minister Nick Boles of being "a hard Brexiteer who wants to destroy the PM's new search for a cross party compromise".[9][10]

Personal life

Gibb is the brother of Conservative MP and Schools Minister Nick Gibb.[6] He is married to Liz, and has two daughters.[11]

He was appointed a Knight Bachelor in Theresa May's resignation honours on 10 September 2019.[12]

References
  1. "Robbie Paul GIBB". Companies House. Retrieved 7 July 2017.
  2. "The inside track on the man putting words in Theresa May's mouth". Evening Standard. 25 March 2019. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
  3. Forrest, Adam (31 August 2020). "GB News: Former No 10 official 'leading effort to launch BBC competitor'". The Independent. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  4. "TV broadcast licensing monthly updates - Ofcom". ofcom.org.uk. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  5. "BBC Daily Politics editor Robbie Gibb to join No 10". BBC News. 6 July 2017. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
  6. Walker, Peter; Mason, Rowena (6 July 2017). "Theresa May hires BBC's Robbie Gibb as communications chief". The Guardian. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
  7. editor, Rowena Mason Deputy political (6 July 2017). "Robbie Gibb: No 10's 'fair, flexible and very modern' new spin doctor". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 25 May 2019.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
  8. "BBC politics chief named as Theresa May's new director of communications". The Independent. Retrieved 27 August 2018.
  9. Andrew Johnson (4 April 2019). "Robbie Gibb: PM's top aide is a hard Brexiteer wrecker, says Nick Boles". inews.co.uk. Retrieved 25 June 2019.
  10. MP, Nick Boles (3 April 2019). "I am no longer a member of the Conservative Party. So I can be blunt where previously I might have been discreet. The PM's head of communications Robbie Gibb is a hard Brexiter who wants to destroy the PM's new search for a cross party compromise". @NickBoles. Retrieved 25 June 2019.
  11. "The inside track on the man putting words in Theresa May's mouth". Evening Standard. 25 March 2019. Retrieved 25 June 2019.
  12. "Resignation Honours 2019". GOV.UK. Retrieved 10 September 2019.
Government offices
Preceded by
Katie Perrior		 Downing Street Director of Communications
2017–2019		 Succeeded by
Lee Cain
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