They used to be called public relations officers, and their job was to enhance the image of their employersʼ products. Struggling back tobusiness after the Second World War, most car firms didnʼt have aPRO. Soin1946, acreative BBC journalist and occasional racing driver called Alan Hess wrote toLen Lord, the Austin MotorCompanyʼs irascible,uncompromising boss, and told him he needed one. Lord gave Hess a10-minute interview, and hired him.