Former Aston F1 com chief Matt Bishop launches new agency

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Matt Bishop, the former communications chief of Aston Martin in F1, is embarking on a new venture with the launch of an agency called Diagonal Communications.

Bishop's new company aims to offer comprehensive services in communications, content creation, public relations, and strategy. Diagonal Communications is supported by Kimura Performance, a London-based company specializing in sports, esports acquisition, development, and project management.

Bishop's motorsport career initially began in journalism, but the Briton transitioned into the field of communications with the McLaren F1 team in the late 2000s.

He later took on the role of communications director for the launch of the all-female W Series and eventually returned to Formula 1 as a key communications figure at Aston Martin.

Additionally, Bishop served as a founding ambassador for Racing Pride, a motorsport LGBTQ+ group that received recognition for its inspirational campaign at The Race Media Awards last year.

Joining Bishop at Diagonal Communications is Joe Downes, who previously worked as the communications manager for W Series and will serve as the business director.

The pair will also rely on the extensive expertise of veteran F1 comms pro Ann Bradshaw, who once led the Williams outfit's communication team during its most successful seasons in F1, and who will act as a senior motorsport consultant to Diagonal, with Tim Holmes in the same role on the automotive sector side.

Read also: All-female W Series placed into administration

"Having worked in Formula 1 and other motorsport media, comms, PR, content and strategy roles since well before the current Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen was born, I have long harboured an ambition to form a communications/content/PR/strategy agency," said Bishop.

"Now, with the active support of Kimura Performance and the tremendous assistance of Joe Downes, Ann Bradshaw and Tim Holmes, together we have been able to do just that.

"Diagonal Communications will supply its clients with strategic communications; brand building services; reputation management; media coverage generation; crisis communications advice; content creation; activation planning; digital and social media management; media monitoring; media training; copywriting; speech writing; thought leadership counsel; and diversity, equity and inclusion counsel and leadership.

"Founded on its principals’ unrivalled experience in general sport, motorsport and automotive, Diagonal Communications will provide strategic, sophisticated, authentic, effective, media-savvy, no-nonsense comms based on peerless knowledge and a passionate commitment to understand, and deliver against, our clients’ challenges and objectives."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.