Brunswick Group has appointed former Labour MP Michael Dugher to lead its UK Public Affairs practice, adding a Westminster veteran to a firm that advises corporate clients on political, policy and reputational risk. Dugher joined Brunswick as a senior adviser in September 2024 and has now taken on the top UK public affairs role, according to the firm’s published profile. The hire comes as Dugher steps away from the betting industry lobby group he has led since its launch. The Betting and Gaming Council said this week that Dugher has resigned as chair with immediate effect after six years at the organisation, where he served first as founding chief executive and later as chair from April 2024. The trade body linked his departure to his move to Brunswick. Industry coverage of the move characterised it as a straight swap from sector lobbying to broader corporate counsel, with Dugher set to run Brunswick’s UK practice focused on government relations and policy. Racing industry outlets reported that Dugher is taking up the Brunswick post as head of UK public affairs after leaving the BGC, and noted his role in leading the BGC from its formation in 2019 and his succession to the chair in 2024. Brunswick’s own biography frames Dugher’s brief as helping clients navigate politics, public policy and reputational challenges across sectors, drawing on experience from government, Parliament and trade bodies. The firm lists him as leading the UK Public Affairs Practice and notes his senior adviser start date in September 2024, signalling that this is an internal elevation rather than a sudden external hire. Dugher’s political background sits firmly within Labour’s pre Corbyn parliamentary generation. He represented Barnsley East in the House of Commons from May 2010 until May 2017 and held a number of frontbench roles during the Conservative led coalition and subsequent majority government, giving him sustained exposure to opposition politics and parliamentary scrutiny. After leaving Parliament, Dugher built a second career in trade association leadership and stakeholder engagement. He moved into senior roles in the music industry’s representative bodies before becoming the inaugural chief executive of the Betting and Gaming Council, which was created to unify major operators under a single lobbying umbrella. Coverage of his departure from the BGC has also highlighted a broader portfolio career alongside his Brunswick role. Dugher is expected to continue working as a freelance business adviser and remains a director at Nottingham Forest Football Club, reflecting an ongoing mix of corporate, sporting and advisory interests. For Brunswick, the appointment comes at a time when public affairs firms are competing to offer clients a blend of political intelligence, regulatory strategy and reputational management. With Dugher now leading its UK public affairs operation, the firm is positioning itself to draw on a figure with both Labour Party credentials and recent experience navigating highly regulated sectors....