Grayling strengthens Corporate Affairs offer with new hire

Grayling has announced a strengthening of its corporate offer, with the appointment of former Metro Bank and Arup director Peter Murray to the position of Head of Corporate Affairs. Peter, a 17-year veteran of corporate communications and public affairs, will provide political and commercial risk advice to Grayling’s C-suite clients, and reputational support to high-profile individuals across the firm’s European network.

Murray will create a new bench of corporate affairs practitioners, drawn from across Grayling’s 25 UK and European offices, underpinning their commitment to providing senior consultancy services to clients, recognising that their issues are complex and require integrated solutions.

The Corporate Affairs offer will draw on a variety of proprietorial tools, including Metis – a cutting-edge media and political service delivered in partnership with Media Foresight that supplements the existing work that Grayling carries out in crisis communications and political intelligence, with a core mission to prevent foreseeable harm to business reputation before it occurs.

Peter joins Grayling from Cicero Group, where he led the corporate communications team. He was director of communications at Metro Bank when it listed on the London Stock Exchange and was head of government affairs at the engineering giant Arup, where he entered the Financial Times’ Top 100 LGBT Leaders in the City.

Reporting to Richard Jukes, Chairman, Grayling Europe, UK and Ireland, Peter will sit across Grayling’s corporate and public affairs teams, underlining the firm’s commitment to providing fully integrated client support.

Richard Jukes, chairman of Grayling, Europe, UK and Ireland, said:

“Grayling is proud to welcome another industry heavyweight to our team. Peter has a wealth of experience that spans corporate communications and public affairs, and has a proven track-record of delivering powerful campaigns for some of Britain’s best-known brands. His appointment underlines our commitment to delivering fully-integrated, expert advice that delivers for our clients, whatever their needs may be.”

Peter Murray, head of corporate affairs, Grayling, said:

“I’m delighted to join Grayling at this time of unprecedented growth, and I look forward to working with its award-winning corporate and public affairs teams. Grayling has a long record of delivering multiple-disciplinary campaigns for major European brands, and I’m excited to be expanding this offering and working with an exceptionally creative team to deliver meaningful campaigns for our clients.”

Image: Sarah Scholefield, CEO Europe, UK & Ireland (left) with Peter Murray, Head of Corporate Affairs (right).