Lobbying
The Mace Questionnaire: Marshall Manson, CEO, FleishmanHillard UK – “Politics is seeping into business through every crack”
The innovative digital comms veteran Marshall Manson, now CEO of FleishmanHillard UK, reveals how he misses The West Wing, was introduced to Westminster by Gyles Brandeth’s political diaries and loves a serious lunch.
The Strategist: Michael Prescott, Managing Director, Hanover – “Better to risk being the most overdressed person in the room than the scruffiest”
From political editor of The Sunday Times to bringing down two BBC chiefs, Michael Prescott reflects on his distinguished career as a journalist and now leading UK corporate strategist (and Beatles fan).
Leader in UK Public Affairs: Martin Turner, Director of Policy and External Affairs, BioIndustry Association, “Pensions reform is a major issue for us”
Turner’s work sits within the BioIndustry Association, the trade body representing the UK’s biotechnology and life sciences sector.
Leader in UK Public Affairs: Konrad Shek, Public Policy & Regulation Director, Advertising Association, “I prefer strategy to performance, substance to theatre”
Konrad Shek discusses his proudest achievement of building the Advertising Association’s credibility and influence in media literacy policy.
Leader in UK Public Affairs: Robert Forrester, Chief Executive, Vertu Motors plc, “Leaders need to cast a vision and hold people accountable”
Robert Forrester reflects on his achievement in helping to found a company 20 years ago that now generates £5bn in revenue and employs more than 7,500 people.
Leader in Public Affairs: David Sheen, Public Affairs Director, UKHospitality, “Take a risk, offer innovative solutions”
David Sheen pushes back against common perceptions about public affairs, but argues instead that it is about hard work, marshalling arguments, and building coalitions.
Leader in Public Affairs: Grace Pritchard, Downing Street Director of News and the Prime Minister’s Political Spokesperson
After heading the Makerfield by-election comms team, Grace Pritchard was singled out by Andy Burnham as being a key part of his northern campaign team. The self-styled ‘Yorkshire lass’ is now the Prime Minister’s Political Spokesperson and Director of News at Downing Street.
Leader in Public Affairs: Zak Viney, Campaigns and Public Affairs Coordinator, Living Streets, “Politics starts locally on the doorstep”
Living Streets’ Zak Viney speaks to The Mace about moving from engineering into advocacy, making the case for walkable streets across political divides and securing practical progress on pavement parking.
Leader in Public Affairs: Zara Harrington, Head of Public Affairs, Diageo – “Luck is when preparation meets opportunity”
From navigating regulation and trade policy to aligning advocacy with commercial strategy, Diageo’s Zara Harington’s career in public affairs has been about understanding how political decisions translate into real-world business outcomes.
The Advocate: Lucy Gilchrist, Director of Public Policy and Government Affairs, PepsiCo UKI – “Advocacy enables better policymaking”
PepsiCo UKI’s Lucy Gilchrist does some of her best policy thinking on the running machine. She tells The Mace why public affairs must turn intelligence into action, how campaigning shaped her approach to political pressure, and why AI should augment rather than replace hard-won experience.
