Where are Meghan and Harry's PRs now? Couple have lost 11 advisers - including the one who preferred a job in insurance and others who have scrubbed all mention of their Team Sussex posts from CVs | Retrui News | Retrui
Where are Meghan and Harry's PRs now? Couple have lost 11 advisers - including the one who preferred a job in insurance and others who have scrubbed all mention of their Team Sussex posts from CVs
SOURCE:Daily Mail
With the departure of her eleventh publicist in just five years, Meghan Markle is probably wondering how Team Sussex can stop the revolving door of her communications team.
The latest casualty is 'cheerleader' PR boss Meredith Maines, who announced she was stepping down after only a year with the couple - and mere months into her role as chief communications officer.
In a short statement, Ms Maines revealed she would be 'pursuing a new opportunity' in 2026.
Astonishingly, her exit marks the fifth key member of publicity staff to have left their employment with Harry and Meghan in the second half of 2025 alone, amid continuing accusations the couple are 'difficult' to work with.
Adding to their woes, US-based Method Communications PR announced it too would be ending its tenure with the Sussexes after just seven months.
It is understood that Liam Maguire, their UK and Europe director of communications, will now lead on all publicity-related work, but his appointment comes off the back of nearly a dozen employees who have quit the PR team since 2020 (although two of those are now working for the couple in non-PR roles).
While some have started up their own firms or work in communications elsewhere, two have tellingly scrubbed any mention of working for Harry and Meghan on their CVs altogether - and one is now the director of a large insurance firm.
So just where are Meghan's past PR advisers now?
Meredith Maines - Chief Communications Officer
The latest departure from Team Sussex, Meredith Maines announced today she would be stepping down as chief communications officer after less than a year in the role to pursue 'a new opportunity'.
According to her LinkedIn, Ms Maines began working for the couple in March 2025.
She wrote that as CCO, she oversees 'all external communications' for Harry and Meghan.
This included Meghan's lifestyle brand As Ever, launched in April this year; their media production company, Archewell Productions; and their joint charity, Archewell Philanthropies.
Ms Maines said earlier this year that the hiring of Method Communications in the Sussex PR team would give international media and stakeholders 'better access' as well as a faster response time to inquiries.
In a statement, she said: 'After a year of inspiring work with Prince Harry and Meghan, Duke and Duchess of Sussex and Archewell, I will be pursuing a new opportunity in 2026.
'I have the utmost gratitude and respect for the couple and the team, and the good they are doing in the world.'
The high-flying PR professional was at the centre of a media storm over the summer when she was pictured meeting with King Charles' communications secretary Tobyn Andreae in London.
The rendezvous was said to have been part of a secret 'peace summit' between the two camps.
Meredith Maines, who was appointed as chief communications officer, is parting ways with Harry and Meghan after a year in the role
Both Harry, 40, and his father, 76, are said to be keen to reconcile, especially after the King was diagnosed with cancer last year.
However, Harry and Meghan are said to have been frustrated that photographs of the extraordinary meeting - which took place in July at a private members club in Mayfair - were published in an exclusive for The Mail on Sunday.
Emily Robinson - Director of Communications
The departure of Meredith Maines comes hot off the heels of Emily Robinson, who was hired as director of communications in June 2025 - but had already jumped ship by October.
With a background in TV publicity, Ms Robinson was considered a controversial hire as she had worked on Netflix series The Crown for years – a show which aired a number of damaging narratives about the Royal Family.
One friend of LA-based Robinson, who built up a reputation as a 'tough cookie' at Netflix, said at the time: 'It was her decision. She left a few weeks ago. She's not a quitter, so things must have been pretty horrible for her to go.'
On her LinkedIn profile there is no mention of her three-month role with Meghan and Harry. Returning to her roots, she is currently listed as the senior vice president in the US & Canada for drect and consumer at streaming service Paramount+.
On her LinkedIn profile there is no mention of Emily Robinson's role with Meghan and Harry, which she left after just three months
Ashley Hansen – Global Press Secretary
The well-respected PR strategist worked for the Sussexes between May 2022 and October 2024 as their global press secretary.
Ms Hansen said at the time of her departure that she had left to launch her own firm, Three Gate Strategies, a role she stayed in until September 2025.
Prince Harry and Meghan were understood to have worked with her as 'part-time' clients.
For the last four months she has worked as a managing partner at the Los Angeles branch of Forward Global in Los Angeles, a business consulting and services firm.
Last month her former colleague Kyle Boulia, who worked under the Sussexes as press secretary, joined the team at Forward Global.
Ashley Hansen departed from Meghan and Prince Harry in 2024 to start up her own agency
Kyle Boulia - Press Secretary / Director of Communications
The senior communications leader worked for the couple between April 2024 and June 2025.
Mr Boulia is understood to have left amid a 'broader communications reshuffle'.
On his LinkedIn, the PR professional states that he has 'a track record of managing global media strategy and brand reputation at the highest levels.'
He adds: 'Most recently, I served as Press Secretary to Prince Harry and Meghan and Director of Communications at Archewell, where I led international press operations, crisis response, and global launches with Netflix, Spotify, and major philanthropic initiatives — shaping narratives that reached hundreds of millions worldwide.'
Since November he has started a new position as Principal at Forward Global, working alongside his former colleague Ashley Hansen.
Mr Boulia is understood to have left in June 2025 amid a 'broader communications reshuffle'
Charlie Gipson - European Communications Director
With a seasoned background in communications, Charlie Gipson first started working for the Sussexes in April 2024, before leaving in July 2025.
According to his LinkedIn, Mr Gipson 'led UK and European media strategy, delivering high-impact communications for their global charitable initiatives.
'I provided senior counsel on strategic planning and crisis management, supported international engagements, and drove campaigns that reached billions worldwide.'
Mr Gipson is now a senior communications consultant for business consultancy firm CG Strategies.
Charlie Gipson first started working for the Sussexes in April 2024, before leaving in July 2025
Toya Holness - Head of Communications
Described as 'Meghan's shadow' - having often been seen wearing the same style of power suits and Hollywood sunglasses - Toya Holness worked for the couple from October 2020 to Jul 2021 as their press secretary, before being promoted to head of communications.
She stayed in the post for 11 months until leaving in May 2022.
Since then Ms Holness has held a number of roles, including as vice president of public relations and chief communications officer at video game company Activision Blizzard.
She also co-founded communications agency Rostra, in February 2024 before leaving at the start of this year.
In July she took on a role in corporate communications for AI safety and research company Anthropic.
Toya Holness was described as 'Meghan's shadow', having often been seen wearing the same style of power suits and Hollywood sunglasses
Josh Kettler - Chief of Staff and PR Guru
Harry appointed Josh Kettler as his chief of staff in May 2024 and it was said that he was the perfect man to 'guide' Harry 'through his next phase'.
Mr Kettler joined Harry that month on his visit to London and was seen entering St Paul's Cathedral with the Duke for the Invictus Games anniversary service.
Later in May 2024, Mr Kettler was a key figure on the Sussexes's three-day tour of Nigeria.
But he suddenly quit from the role in August just ahead of the couple's trip to Colombia, after just three months in the role.
Mr Kettler does not publicly state his role with the couple on his LinkedIn profile, posting instead that he was a 'chief of staff and strategy consultant' during this period.
He is currently the president at insurance firm The Buckner Company, as of May of this year.
Josh Kettler suddenly quit from his role with Harry and Meghan after just three months in 2024
Ms Schirmer began her role as head of communications for Archewell in October 2020.
In July 2021 she was promoted up to senior advisor, before departing from the couple in 2023.
She is now a partner at global advisory firm Brunswick Group in San Francisco
Ms Schirmer began her role as head of communications for Archewell in October 2020
Miranda Barbot - Director of Global Communications
The couple first hired Miranda Barbot as a communications manager for Archewell in October 2021.
She was swiftly promoted to director of global communications by the following May and stayed in that role until October 2024.
Barbot then moved into a non-PR role as VP of programs and media operations.
For last nine months she has held the position of Chief of Staff and remains working for the couple.
Miranda Barbot has worked for the couple since October 2021, moving away from the PR team and now serving as their chief of staff
James Holt - Head of Engagement and Communications
Having previously worked as head of communications for Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and the Liberal Democrats, James Holt has remained with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex for nearly five years.
He was formerly a senior communications officer for the couple when they shared the same PR team as the Prince and Princess of Wales, before going on to become their head of communications post-Megxit.
Mr Holt currently serves as the couple's executive director at Archewell.
Having previously worked as head of communications for Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and the Liberal Democrats, James Holt has remained with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex for nearly five years
Deesha Tank - Communications Director at Archewell
As another key PR person to leave the Sussexes this year, Deesha Tank first worked for Meghan and Harry in June 2022 as a communications manager.
She was promoted in May 2024 to director of communications, before leaving just over a year later in June 2025.
Ms Tank is now director of communications at the Rare Impact Fund for cosmetics brand Rare Beauty in Los Angeles, California.
Deesha Tank is among several key PR employees to leave the Sussexes this year