Staffordshire excavator manufacturer JCB has lost its third senior PR chief in three years, with the departure of Brian Conway, former head of PR at Birmingham International Airport.

Mr Conway had been just ten months in the post of worldwide manager of communications, succeeding Jane Atkinson, one-time media adviser to the late Princess of Wales.

Ms Atkinson had occupied the newly-created post of head of global communications and succeeded head of corporate affairs John Palmer, who left after five years.

Neither JCB, who would only confirm that Mr Conway had left, nor Mr Conway himself, would go into details on the cause of his departure.

JCB said: "Brian Conway has left the company to pursue other interests, and we wish him well in the future."