BP has hired a new director of communications to help rebuild its image in the aftermath of the Gulf of Mexico disaster, according to reports.

Peter Henshaw will head up internal, press and government relations for BP, leaving his current post as head of government affairs at BG Group. Henshaw had worked for BP’s legal and communications departments, including a post as head of communications at TNK-BP, BP’s Russian joint venture, before leaving for BG in 2008.

"BP will be hoping that the worst is behind them now," said Jonathan Hemus, of the reputation management and communications consultancy Insignia. "Henshaw, together with the new chief executive Bob Dudley, will need to do everything possible to make their communications and the corporate behaviour absolutely aligned in order to avoid further problems. It's clearly a situation where recovery will be achieved via action and communication in equal measure, in order to rebuild the trust of stakeholders."

The oil giant was criticised for its public relations response to the spill, which started with the Deepwater Horizon explosion in April 2010. Former chief executive Tony Hayward left BP in September following a series of public gaffes, and the head of group media Andrew Gowers left his position in November. BP is believed to be appointing a separate head of press to replace Gowers.