Ewen Balfour was a much respected public relations executive who held several high-profile positions with national authorities before becoming a senior private sector consultant with Brunswick Group. During his time at the Royal Opera House (ROH) he had to cope with a litany of problems that came with its closure in the late 1980s. He also worked for the British Museum and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO).

Ewen Balfour was born in Aberdeenshire and came south aged 8 when his father bought a bakery in Wiltshire. He attended Swindon High School and spent many weekends delivering bread for his father. From his teens he expressed a desire to be a journalist and worked as a reporter on a number of local newspapers, including the Stroud News & Journal, before, in 1968, joining the Central Office of Information in Bristol. In 1972-75 he was seconded to the COI at the British Embassy in Ankara before returning to the Central Office of Information in London. In1979-83 Balfour was seconded to the Arts Ministry as its press officer. From 1983 Balfour was head of public affairs at the British Museum.

Balfour joined the ROH in 1986. It was a traumatic time. Plans for the closure and development of the opera house had been rumbling on, and delays and funding problems — coupled with failed attempts to find a suitable theatre to house the Royal Ballet and the Royal Opera — made debate about the future of the ROH a highly charged political issue. The money involved was considerable (£200 million) and there were those who thought the funds should go to other causes.

Balfour brought a sense of calm reliability to the ROH press office. Sir John Tooley, then the ROH general director, wrote in his autobiography: “I persuaded Ewen Balfour to leave the security of the British Museum to join us. Suddenly we had in our midst the most likeable, loyal and well-connected PR person you could have wanted. He rapidly improved our relations with the press.” Balfour had an instinctive talent for anticipating difficulties and working out strategies for artistic and financial problems before journalists rang. Even during frantic days when the ROH faced daily bombardment, Balfour remained straight forward and down-to-earth. In his quiet and patient manner he answered the most exhausting questions factually with wit and courtesy. They were qualities that journalists admired.

He involved himself with many activities outside his immediate area of responsibilities. He went on tours with the Birmingham Royal Ballet to Australia and New Zealand, was instrumental in smoothing the administrative process for the first live relay into the Covent Garden piazza in 1986 (La Bohème with Plácidio Domingo) and acted as an informed mediator when the Royal Ballet were threatening extended strike action in 1989.

One example of his shrewd nose for potential pitfalls was evidenced near the end of his time at the ROH. He strenuously advised the board against allowing a film company unlimited access to make a fly-on-the-wall documentary. After he left, a film was made that many considered unhelpful.

The ROH deemed that Balfour’s services were no longer necessary around Easter 1991. A petition was organised and signed by many at the ROH — including the musical director of the Royal Opera, Bernard Haitink. Balfour, saddened but much touched by his colleagues’ solidarity, left.

In 1991 he acted as press officer for the Japan Festival and the following year joined Paul Findlay, his former colleague at Covent Garden, who was then the artistic director of the RPO. Balfour helped to improve the orchestra’s national image and was involved in successful negotiations to secure a record label deal; a contract with Classic FM; and a residency at both the Royal Albert Hall and Nottingham. Many regulars at Covent Garden will remember Balfour after a performance fixing his bicycle clips, unpadlocking his bike from a railing in Floral Street and cycling off to his home in south London with a cheery wave. He cycled everywhere in London and a decade ago did two lengthy charity cycle rides in Bhutan and India and often participated in the London to Brighton Run. He regularly visited the Wagner Festival at Bayreuth and eight years ago bought a holiday home in Grenada which afforded him much relaxation and joy. He also enjoyed holidays in Cornwall

In 1996 he joined the Brunswick Group, the London-based public relations firm. He advised corporate clients on arts sponsorship while helping arts organisations to find suitable partners. For a time he worked alongside Sarah Brown, the wife of the Prime Minister. Rather than loking after a specific list of cleints, as most consults do, he offered advice broadly, where and wehen it was needed.

Balfour sat on the boards of several arts organisations. He was a governor of the Guildhall School of Music, and sat on the boards of the Dartington International Summer School, English Touring Opera and the Hackney Empire. He was respected for suggesting others who might fill useful roles at organisations and admired for the way he brought people and ideas together.

Balfour, who was unmarried, was a gracious man whose warm smile was often seen at arts events in London. He had a contact book that was thought to be one of the most comprehensive and influential in London.

Ewen Balfour, public relations executive, was born on November 30, 1942. He died of cancer on December 10, 2008, aged 66