Richard Harrington, a former UK minister for business and industry, joined APCO Worldwide as a senior advisor and member of APCO’s International Advisory Council (IAC), Margery Kraus, founder and executive chairman, announced.
“With decades of experience in government and business, Richard will bring valuable expertise and insight that organizations need, particularly during uncertain times like today,” Kraus said. “IAC members are increasingly called upon by the C-Suite for their prowess in business diplomacy, and Richard’s sage advice and leadership will greatly augment our capacity.”
During his tenure as the business minister from 2017 until 2019, Harrington was responsible for the UK’s Industrial Strategy, which included the automotive, automobile, life sciences, creative industries, chemical, hospitality and professional service sectors. He served as a member of Parliament for Watford, from 2010 until 2019.
Harrington also previously served on the International Development Select Committee, and was Prime Minister David Cameron’s apprenticeship adviser. In addition to his roles in the government, Harrington has held various executive positions in the private sector—particularly in businesses in the real estate, hotel, leisure and wealth management sectors—over a period of 30 years, after graduating from Oxford University.
APCO’s IAC and its four subgroups comprise more than 100 recognized global leaders, including policy experts, business and industry leaders, former elected politicians, academics, renowned journalists, diplomats and nonprofit pioneers. Harrington joins an extraordinary group of strategic advisors in the IAC, including Ambassador Eduardo Aguirre, Ambassador Ido Aharoni, Ambassador Claudia Fritsche, Ambassador Lalit Mansingh, Former Assistant to President George W. Bush Anita McBride, Former United States Congresswoman Susan Molinari, Former President of IKEA U.S. Lars Petersson, Ambassador Tim Roemer, Former President of the European Investment Fund Georges Ugeux, and Former Member of the European Parliament Graham Watson.
For more than 35 years, APCO has been a trusted advisor and partner to private, public and nonprofit clients as they try to identify and manage new and emerging issues, challenges and opportunities around the world. Established by Kraus as a single-person operation in 1984, APCO has grown to a global advisory and advocacy communications consultancy with offices in more than 30 markets and experience working in more than 80 markets globally, providing in-depth advice, perceptive guidance and creative approaches for its clients.
