Rachel Whetstone Explained

Rachel Whetstone
Birth Date:22 February 1968
Birth Place:Kensington, London, England
Alma Mater:University of Bristol
Occupation:Public relations executive
Party:Conservative
Children:2
Mother:Linda Whetstone
Relatives:Antony Fisher (grandfather)

Rachel Marjorie Joan Whetstone (born 22 February 1968)[1] [2] is a British public relations executive. Whetstone was in charge of communications and public policy for Google for nearly 10 years. She was senior vice-president of communications and public policy for Uber until April 2017. She then joined Facebook as VP of communications of its WhatsApp, Instagram and Messenger products.[3] Since August 2018, she has been the chief communication officer (CCO) of Netflix.[4]

In February 2013, Whetstone was assessed as one of the 100 most powerful women in the United Kingdom by Woman's Hour on BBC Radio 4.[5] Whetstone has been featured on PRWeeks Power List several times, most recently in 2016 at number 14.[6]

Early life

Whetstone's maternal grandfather was Antony Fisher, founder of several libertarian think tanks, including the Institute of Economic Affairs and the Atlas Economic Research Foundation.[7] [8] Her mother was Linda Whetstone, who worked with Fisher's think tanks.[9]

Raised in East Sussex, Whetstone attended Benenden School and then read history at the University of Bristol.[10]

Career

Upon graduation she joined Conservative Central Office, advising then-Home Secretary Michael Howard.[10] She subsequently entered the private sector, working for T-Mobile UK and Portland PR, before returning to Westminster in 2003 as Political Secretary to Howard when he became Conservative Party leader.[11] [12]

When Howard stood down following the general election in 2005, she returned to the private sector, joining Google in London before moving to California to lead the search engine's public policy and PR teams.[13]

In June 2015, Whetstone became senior vice-president of policy and communications at Uber, replacing David Plouffe who was to be promoted to chief adviser to the company.[14] In April 2017, it was announced that Whetstone would be leaving Uber.[15] She was replaced by Jill Hazelbaker, who had been Whetstone's deputy.[16] [17]

Recode reported in July 2017 that Whetstone would be joining Facebook in September as VP of communications for WhatsApp, Instagram and Messenger. The newly created role reported to Facebook's VP of Global Communications, Caryn Marooney.[18]

In August 2018, Whetstone joined Netflix to run public relations.

Personal life

Whetstone is married to Steve Hilton, a British-American political commentator.[19] She lives in Atherton, California, the most expensive ZIP code in the United States.[20] In 2022, Whetstone opposed a plan to loosen the town's zoning code (which only allows one house per acre) and permit multi-family housing.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Index entry. 10 November 2021. FreeBMD. ONS.
  2. Web site: BBC Radio 4 – Woman's Hour, Woman's Hour Power List – Rachel Whetstone . BBC News . 15 January 2014.
  3. News: Former Uber comms head Rachel Whetstone is jumping to Facebook. Swisher. Kara . Kara Swisher . 2017-07-18. Recode. 2017-07-19.
  4. Web site: Netflix Names Facebook and Google Alum as Chief Communications Officer . variety.com. 27 August 2018 . 2022-05-24.
  5. Web site: BBC Radio 4, Woman's Hour Power list.
  6. News: Rachel Whetstone, SVP, communications and public policy, Uber: Power List 2016. 2017-07-19.
  7. News: Who is Rachel Whetstone? Former Uber PR chief with a Tory insider past. Silvera. Ian. 2017-04-13. International Business Times UK. 2018-09-11. en.
  8. News: Rachel Whetstone: The posh girl loved by the valley billionaires. Edwardes. Charlotte. 2018-09-11.
  9. Web site: Remembering Linda Whetstone, Champion of Liberty. heritage.org. 2022-09-06.
  10. News: Hattersley . Giles . Power couple behind the new Tory throne . 30 December 2020 . www.thetimes.co.uk . The Sunday Times . 26 March 2006 . en.
  11. Web site: Rachel Whetstone: from Tory power broker to Silicon Valley PR guru. Davies. Rob. 2017-04-13. the Guardian. en. 2018-09-11.
  12. Web site: Facebook hires former Uber PR chief Rachel Whetstone. Levin. Sam. 2017-07-18. the Guardian. en. 2018-09-11.
  13. Web site: Swisher . Kara . Top Facebook communications exec Rachel Whetstone is departing for Netflix . Vox . 30 December 2020 . en . 27 August 2018.
  14. News: Rachel Whetstone leaves Google communication role to join Uber. Chris. Johnston. The Guardian . 13 May 2015. www.theguardian.com.
  15. Web site: Uber's head of communications, Rachel Whetstone, is leaving. Kara. Swisher. 11 April 2017. Vox.
  16. News: Rachel Whetstone Exits Uber, Jill Hazelbaker Takes Over. 2018-09-11. en.
  17. News: Uber's head of communications, Rachel Whetstone, is leaving. Recode. 2018-09-11.
  18. News: Google, Uber veteran Rachel Whetstone joins Facebook in new comms VP role. 2017-07-19.
  19. News: Powers behind the throne. 29 May 2015. The Telegraph. 31 May 2008.
  20. News: Griffith . Erin . 2022-08-12 . The Summer of NIMBY in Silicon Valley's Poshest Town . en-US . The New York Times . 2022-08-13 . 0362-4331.