Gina Coladangelo: From PR Success to Public Controversy
Gina Coladangelo is a British businesswoman, political aide, and communications expert due to her association and personal relationship with UK former Health Secretary Matt Hancock.
She has worked in public relations, marketing, and strategic communications, having held top-ranking positions in the private and the public sectors.
She did become a public figure in controversy when her affair with Hancock became public in 2021. In any event, Coladangelo’s career in business and telecommunications has spanned over two decades, despite the media attention given to her private life.
Birth, Parents, and Education
Gina Coladangelo was born August 13, 1977, in Hitchin, Hertfordshire, England. Coladangelo has a reputable family of mixed heritage. Her father, Rino Coladangelo, is a businessman from Italy, while her mother, Heather Coladangelo, is a florist from England. Her creative side was complemented by the business side of the family, allowing her to achieve success in her career.
She studied Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE) at the renowned University of Oxford. While attending the University of Oxford, she started taking a strong liking towards politics and public relations, which became the focal point of her career later.
At Oxford is where she got acquainted with Matt Hancock, a relationship that would be important for her later in life. She was set to start working in the fields of communications and business after her graduation in 1998.
Career
Gina Coladangelo has worked for over a decade and has had tremendous success in public relations, marketing, and business development. She has held positions in a wide range of industries, such as healthcare, retail, and even government communication sectors.
Early Career in Communications
Her first position was at Munro and Forster Communications, a top public relations agency providing strategic communication services. Through her gained experience in public affairs, she learnt how to handle crisis situations and managed media relations.
Later, she became a director at Luther Pendragon, one of the largest lobbying and PR companies. In 2005, Gina orchestrated a management buyout of Luther Pendragon by Octopus Asset Management, skilfully using her corporate strategy and negotiation training.
Marketing Director at Oliver Bonas
Gina Coladangelo joined Oliver Bonas in 2014, which is a British lifestyle and fashion brand created by her ex-husband Oliver Tress. As a Marketing and Communications Director, she constructed the communication strategies for the brand, prepared advertising campaigns, and built brand equity through other promotional activities.
During her leadership, Oliver Bonas captured a significant share of the retail market in the UK and established a high reputation for stylish products.
Role at the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC)
In 2019, Gina Coladangelo was appointed a Non-Executive Director at the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) in the U.K. This position was to exercise independent supervision and direction over the Department’s work.
Nevertheless, her appointment raised eyebrows because of her being a close friend of Health Secretary Matt Hancock. Sceptics asked if the appointment was suitable based on competence or personal relations.
At the same time, Gina was working at the DHSC. She led various public health campaigns and was involved in several government communication strategies throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. After the scandal with Matt Hancock, she left her position in 2021.
Personal Life
Marriage to Oliver Tress
Gina Coladangelo gained notoriety for marrying Oliver Bona’s founder, Oliver Tress. Along with their professional aspirations, Tress and Coladangelo enjoyed family life together and welcomed three children.
Relationship with Matt Hancock
In June 2021, she was caught kissing Matt Hancock in the DHSC office on CCTV, which later had her become a person of interest. Given that there were strict social distancing measures in place for COVID-19 at the time, it caused an uproar from the public, and Matt Hancock stepped down from Health Secretary and Gina exited her DHSC role.
Social Media Presence
Gina Coladangelo, unlike some public names, has kept a relatively low profile when it comes to social media. She does not have Instagram or Twitter accounts that are publicly accessible. She does, however, have a LinkedIn profile. After the media scandal, she has refrained from significant public interactions on social media and has tried staying away from the limelight.
News articles, other media, and political forums, often featuring one-sided discussions, continue to cover her due to her connection with Matt Hancock.
Gina Coladangelo Net Worth
Due to her various professional positions, she continues to earn to this day. Despite conflicting claims, experts estimate Gina Coladangelo net worth to be between 1-3 million pounds, or 1.3m-3.9m US dollars.
Her wealth comes from:
- Her senior positions in PR and communications firms
- Her role at Oliver Bonas
- Her directorship at the DHSC
Moreover, their economic status was stable during the former marriage with Oliver Tress, who is claimed to have a net worth of over 12 million pounds, and this wealth had contributed to them.
Final Words
Gina Colladangelo has had a blend of career accomplishments alongside public criticism. As a businesswoman, she specialises in public relations, marketing, and government communications. However, her career and personal life became a subject of interest because of her affair with Matt Hancock. Regardless of the hurdles, she still manages to avoid the public limelight by concentrating on her personal and professional life outside of media’s attention.
