External Communications Managing Director Is Appointed

The First Presidency has appointed Wendell J. Ashton, Regional Representative of the Council of the Twelve and Salt Lake City advertising executive, as managing director of external communications for the Church. Earlier this year J. Thomas Fyans was appointed managing director of internal communications.

Brother Ashton’s assignment will be to direct the public relations program of the Church, including the Church’s television, radio, and newspaper arms, Church Information Service, and visitors centers. Advisers to the new department are Elders Mark E. Petersen and Gordon B. Hinckley of the Council of the Twelve.

Brother Ashton has held many responsible positions in business, church, and community, including general secretary of the Sunday School, managing editor of the Deseret News, member of the Sunday School general board, author of a monthly article that ran for twenty-eight years on the back cover of the Instructor, stake president, and member of adult correlation, leadership, and priesthood home teaching committees of the Church. He has received many honors and awards in writing, public relations, and journalism.

Wendell J. Ashton