Financial TImes to bankers PR
Andrew Gowers (left) has a new role with AFME Reuters

The Former editor of the Financial Times has stepped into a PR role for Europe's bankers.

Andrew Gowers has been appointed director of external relations for pan-European lobby group the Association for Financial Markets in Europe (AFME).

The association's membership includes most of the major banks in Europe and the US.

Gowers, who led BP's public relations campign during the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, will be responsible for improving bankers' reputation in Europe.

He has been working as a consultant to the association for the last three months, with his wok including the editing of the AFME book Investing in Change.

He was also the head of communications and brand management at Lehman Brothers during its collapse.

Gowers edited the Financial Times from 2001 to 2005, citing "strategic differences" as the reason for his departure.