About Us
The Cavendish Team
Between us, the Cavendish team have many years of experience in public affairs. We also bring expertise from working in related fields such as journalism, and in think–tanks, political parties (both nationally and locally), local government and in Parliament.
We come from a variety of political backgrounds, but we all share an enthusiasm, and respect, for the political process.
Because most of us have been working in public affairs for some years, we understand what works and what doesn’t.
We don’t work in big, hierarchical teams – we work together to provide the best advice to our clients.
You can find out more about us by clicking on the links below.
meet the team
Alex Challoner
Managing Director
Alex is the founding Director of Cavendish Communications.
With over fifteen years of experience at a senior level within government and the media he is one of the foremost UK professionals in his industry.
He was recently quoted within the top 100 UK lobbyists (Total Politics).
Alex is a professional political campaigner having worked on several national party political campaigns, including Campaign Director for Steve Norris’s London Mayoral Campaign 2000 and as a former adviser to the Conservative Party at the 1997 General Election Campaign. He is a former-radio news journalist who has contributed to national and regional current affairs and political programmes, including the BBC’s “On the Record“. Alex is still actively involved with the Conservative Party as a National Board Member for the Tory Reform Group and an association member.
At Cavendish he provides advice to a number of leading national organisations and companies in the UK on their relationships with Government, Westminster, NGOs, and media. He set up Cavendish Communications in 2003 and has established its reputation in a number of policy sectors: energy/environment, transport, health, public sector and construction/property. Current clients include The Royal Parks, The Met Office, British Waterways, Willmott Dixon Group and Crest Nicholson.
Murray Stewart
Associate Director
Murray has over 10 years’ experience in public affairs consultancy and joined Cavendish Communications in February 2009. A specialist in government relations, he has particular expertise in the skills, finance, transport and environment sectors and has managed public affairs and communications campaigns; developed parliamentary strategies; and provided strategic campaign advice to a wide range of clients
His experience in the political field includes working as an adviser to numerous Labour MPs and also to Baroness Thornton. During the 1997 General Election campaign, Murray worked in the Labour Party Attack Unit and Press Office and formulated Labour‘s “line to take” database.
He holds a Masters Degree with Distinction in Politics and Contemporary History from University College, London.
David Fanthorpe
Senior Consultant
David has almost twenty years’ experience of public affairs consultancy and has been an associate with Cavendish since 2006.
He began his career as a Whitehall civil servant, but later transferred to the political sphere and became deputy director of the Conservative Research Department when Mrs Thatcher was Prime Minister.
As a consultant, David has worked for some of the leading names in the public affairs and PR consultancy world and has advised a wide range of companies and organisations. He has worked in most policy areas but specialises in environment, healthcare, financial services, transport and technology.
Gareth Morgan
Associate Director
Gareth has been at Cavendish Communications since 2004 and in that time has worked on clients such as the Met Office, British Waterways, John Lewis, Waitrose, the National Forest and The Royal Parks. A specialist in Westminster politics and Whitehall policy development, Gareth has led a number of high profile accounts which have taken organisations with limited political influence or profile and enabled them to have significant impacts on emerging policy.
Gareth has a Masters degree in European Social Policy from the London School of Economics and is an active member of the Haringey Labour Party.
Ben Maloney
Account Manager
Ben has more than five years’ experience of public affairs and the media, and joined Cavendish in January 2007.
Prior to joining Cavendish Ben worked as a journalist on one of the UK’s leading regional newspapers, the Wiltshire Times, and has had articles published for the Daily Mail, Daily Express and London Evening Standard.
Ben is an active member of the Labour Party and is standing for Enfield Council.