Neil Wallis

Neil John Wallis (born 4 October 1950)^[1] is a former newspaper editor in the United Kingdom.

Early life

Wallis was born in Lincolnshire.^[2] He attended Skegness Grammar School^{[citation needed]}.

Career

Journalism

Wallis worked for News International from 1986, rising to become Deputy Editor of The Sun from 1993. He left in 1998 and took up the editorship of The People. In 2003, he moved to become Deputy Editor of the News of the World, and in 2007 he became Executive Editor of the paper. In May 2009, he announced that he would be leaving his post later in the year.^[3] He was known as "the wolf man" by fellow journalists.^[4]

Wallis is a former member of the Editors' Code of Practice Committee at the Press Complaints Commission.^[5]

Public relations

After leaving journalism he worked for the Outside Organisation, a company specialising in public relations,^[6] becoming Managing Director in 2010.^[7] Wallis' own company, Chamy Media, provided "strategic communication advice and support" to the Metropolitan Police on a part-time basis from October 2009 to September 2010 whilst the Met's Deputy Director of Public Affairs was on extended sick leave.^[8][9]

It is alleged that while recovering from illness Sir Paul Stephenson, head of the Metropolitan Police, accepted a free extended stay (worth £12,000) at a Champneys health spa, a company which then employed Wallis for PR work.^[10] Upon announcing his resignation from the Metropolitan Police on 17 July 2011, Stephenson acknowledged that his decision to resign was "in particular in relation to Neil Wallis".^[11]

Arrest

On 14 July 2011, Mr Wallis was arrested by the Metropolitan Police investigating the News of the World phone hacking scandal.^[12] Upon the announcement of this Outside Organisation edited their website, removing his listing as MD and a part of his biography which had stated "What he [Wallis] doesn’t know about journalism and media isn’t worth knowing".^[13]

Wallis' daughter

John Yates is under investigation for having procured a job for Wallis's daughter.^[14]

References

1. ^ "Debretts". Debretts. 4 October 1950. http://www.debretts.com/people/biographies/browse/w/19877/Neil%20John+WALLIS.aspx. Retrieved 15 July 2011. 
2. ^ Ian Burrell (15 July 2011). "Fleet Street's 'Wolfman': hardened hack with a hotline to the Met". The Independent. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/press/fleet-streets-wolfman-hardened-hack-with-a-hotline-to-the-met-2314076.html. Retrieved 29 July 2011. 
3. ^ John Plunkett, "Neil Wallis to leave News of the World", The Guardian, 1 May 2009
4. ^ "Call for police chief to resign over hacking". Sydney Morning Herald. http://www.smh.com.au/world/call-for-police-chief-to-resign-over-hacking-20110715-1hi0v.html#ixzz1SCYDIjpX. Retrieved 15 July 2011. 
5. ^ "Phone hacking: MPs 'could summon Rebekah Brooks'". BBC News. 14 July 2011. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-14148658. Retrieved 14 July 2011. 
6. ^ PA (14 July 2011). "Andy Coulson deputy Neil Wallis arrested". The Independent. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/andy-coulson-deputy-neil-wallis-arrested-2313516.html. Retrieved 14 July 2011. 
7. ^ Kate Magee (27 October 2010). "Channel Five Outsources Press Office To The Outside Organisation". http://prweek.co.uk/uk/news/1037246/Channel-Five-outsources-press-office-Outside-Organisation. Retrieved 14 July 2011. 
8. ^ "Statement re Chamy Media". Metropolitan Police. 14 July 2011. http://content.met.police.uk/News/Statement-re-Chamy-Media/1260269274255/1257246745756. Retrieved 14 July 2011. 
9. ^ "Arrested NOTW Deputy 'Was Police Consultant'". Sky News. 14 July 2011. http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-News/Phone-Hacking-Man-60-Held-By-Police-Investigating-Allegations-That-Brought-Down-News-Of-The-World/Article/201107216030210?lpos=UK_News_Carousel_Region_0&lid=ARTICLE_16030210_Phone_Hacking%3A_Man%2C_60%2C_Held_By_Police_Investigating_Allegations_That_Brought_Down_News_Of_The_World. Retrieved 14 July 2011. 
10. ^ Juliette Garside (17 July 2011). "Met chief faces questions over spa stay". Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/jul/17/met-chief-faces-questions-spa. Retrieved 17 July 2011. 
11. ^ Patrick Wintour, Nicholas Watt and Vikram Dodd (18 July 2011). "How Paul Stephenson and PM fell out over hacking scandal". Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011/jul/18/david-cameron-paul-stephenson-hacking. Retrieved 18 July 2011. 
12. ^ "Hacking: 'Coulson's NOTW Deputy Arrested'". Sky News. 14 July 2011. http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-News/Phone-Hacking-Man-60-Held-By-Police-Investigating-Allegations-That-Brought-Down-News-Of-The-World/Article/201107216030210?lpos=UK_News_First_UK_News_Article_Teaser_Region_2&lid=ARTICLE_16030210_Phone_Hacking%3A_Man%2C_60%2C_Held_By_Police_Investigating_Allegations_That_Brought_Down_News_Of_The_World. Retrieved 14 July 2011. 
13. ^ Alec Mattinson (14 July 2011). "Outside Organisation MD Neil Wallis Arrested In Hacking Investigation". http://www.prweek.com/news/1080238. Retrieved 14 July 2011. 
14. ^ Press Association (18 July 2011). "Phone hacking: IPCC to investigate Paul Stephenson and John Yates". Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011/jul/18/phone-hacking-ipcc-paul-stephenson-john-yates. Retrieved 18 July 2011. 

External links

• Collected news and commentary at The Independent
• "Scotland Yard Stint Lands Former Editor in Spotlight", Wall Street Journal, 21 July 2011

Media offices
Preceded by Stuart Higgins	Deputy Editor of The Sun 1993–1998	Succeeded by Rebekah Wade
Preceded by Brendon Parsons	Editor of The People 1998–2003	Succeeded by Mark Thomas
Preceded by Andy Coulson	Deputy Editor of the News of the World 2003–2007	Succeeded by Jane Johnson

Persondata
Name	Wallis, Neil
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	4 October 1950
Place of birth	Lincolnshire
Date of death
Place of death