The Bermuda Government officially confirmed the appointment of Beverle Lottimore as new director of Communication and Information yesterday.

Ms Lottimore will take up the post - with a yearly salary of $106,995 - on August 18.

As head of the department she will work under Cabinet Secretary John Drinkwater.

"The Government is committed to ensuring the public is informed about all of its activities and the community understands the products and services offered by Government,'' Mr. Drinkwater said.

"Ms Lottimore's extensive experience in communications makes her the right person for handling the communication needs of the Government.

"She has a clear understanding of the public information needs and Government's communication needs."

Government's top communications' post has been vacant for more than 18 months since the last director Gavin Shorto retired. A succession of civil servants have temporarily held the post since.

According to a press release, Ms Lottimore brings more than 30 years of experience in the communications field within Bermuda and internationally spanning radio and television, public relations and event planning, marketing research and business development and management.

She has held key positions with US firms Foote, Cone & Belding Worldwide as broadcast manager, The Mingo Group as director of business affairs and K.A. Enterprises, Inc. as vice president and research associate. Ms Lottimore acted as a consultant to the Department of Tourism during its search for an African-American advertising agency with the target market being the northeast US.

In her most recent position as business development manager with The Royal Gazette, Ms. Lottimore was project manager on the company's first book publication effort, `Bermuda: Our People, Our Story'. A graduate of The Berkeley Institute, Ms Lottimore attended Fordham University in New York City and is currently a student in The University of Kent Law Programme at The Bermuda College.