Mike Lee

After completing a BA (Hons) in Politics, Philosophy and Economics at St Peter’s College, Oxford University, Mike embarked on a career in Government and Media Relations. This included working as a Parliamentary Campaigns Officer with The Labour Party and then as Special Adviser to Rt Hon David Blunkett MP.

Moving to consultancy Mike became Deputy MD of a leading UK agency specialising in integrated political and media communications. His clients ranged across many sectors, including broadcasting and sports and leisure, where he worked as the Press Chief for the English Premier League. In 2000 Mike was appointed Director of Communications and Public Affairs for UEFA, European football’s governing body, with overall responsibility for corporate communications and external relations, including links to Governments, the EU and international media.

In 2003 Mike moved back to the UK to take up the role of Director of Communications and Public Affairs at London 2012 where he co-ordinated all external relations and campaigning elements of London’s Olympic bid. Mike co-chaired the creative team, and led the international media and on-line campaign, high-level political liaison and oversaw the work of the bid’s sporting ambassadors. Mike was official bid spokesman and special adviser to the Chairman (Lord Sebastian Coe). His book on the London 2012 campaign is to be published in the summer of 2006.(The Race for the 2012 Olympics (Paperback) by Mike Lee)

In 2005 Mike was voted PR Week’s “PR Professional of the Year” and was awarded an OBE in the New Years Honour List. In 2006 he became CEO of the newly formed Vero Communications Ltd.