Leadership Lessons with Joe Chapman, Group Head of Public Affairs at MAG (Manchester Airports Group)

Managing Consultant at Hanson Search Peter Ferguson, sat down with Joe Chapman, Group Head of Public Affairs at Manchester Airports Group (MAG) to discuss the evolving role of public affairs professionals, the skills required to succeed and how leaders in this space can maximise their influence in a commercially driven world. With a career spanning both agency and in-house roles, Joe brings deep insight into how political volatility is reshaping public affairs and the increasing importance of policy understanding at the highest levels of business.

How did you get into public affairs?

After my Master’s in International Relations at King’s College London, I landed an internship at Dods Group, working on political monitoring for clients. I stayed there for five years and ended up as Head of Research, Campaigns and Events. After that, I transitioned in-house with a short stint at the Royal Academy of Engineering before moving into corporate public affairs with Tesco, Sainsbury’s and now MAG.

What qualities do you think are essential for leaders in public affairs today?

Commercial awareness is vital. Politics is increasingly volatile and has become a significant risk factor for businesses. Senior leaders don’t want political gossip, they want to understand how a specific policy or regulatory change affects the business. The ability to cut through noise and deliver clear, strategic advice is more important than ever.

What are the key challenges in your current role?

Time is the biggest challenge. There’s more demand than ever for public affairs input, which means being ruthless with priorities. It’s about constantly asking where can I add the most value in relation to our commercial objectives.

How important is public affairs representation at board level?

It’s critical. I don’t sit on the board, but I regularly brief our Chief Strategy Officer on political developments and how they impact the business. There’s a real appetite for this insight. Whether a role like Chief Political Officer becomes standard, the skillset absolutely needs to be represented at the top table.

How do you see the public affairs industry evolving over the next five years?

The old idea that your political credentials are tied to party affiliation is fading. It’s now more about transferable skills and an understanding of policy across a shifting political spectrum. When I joined Tesco I expected public affairs to become more integrated with communications, but in reality, the sheer dominance of politics in business life has only increased demand for me to be a specialist in this field

Are you seeing more integration with other communications disciplines?

I collaborate with our communications team particularly when there’s a media element, but the core of my work is policy and politics focused and understanding how government works. Increasingly my time is spent commissioning economic analysis that can stand up an argument or leading on policy campaigns. The blend is more between public affairs and policy than media and PR.

What do you look for in agency support?

Specialist projects are where agencies can really shine. For  example, thought leadership or integrated campaigns that raise the profile of the business. But they need to add something we don’t have in-house. If they understand the policy landscape or have connections that go beyond ours, that’s valuable. Otherwise, it’s about capacity and delivering high-impact work where we don’t have the bandwidth.

What advice would you give someone starting a career in public affairs?

Get a handle on economics as well as politics. You don’t need to be an economist but understanding how the economy shapes political decision-making is increasingly important. Also, work on your soft skills, how you present, how you speak in meetings, how you build relationships. The technical knowledge will only get you so far, being able to communicate effectively is what will set you apart.

Whether you’re hiring top Public Affairs talent or considering your next career move, our team would be delighted to support you.

Peter Ferguson is Managing Consultant in the public affairs Practice, supporting some of the world’s most renowned communications consultancies, boutique public affairs agencies and global in-house clients.

Hanson Search is a globally recognised, award-winning talent advisory and headhunting consultancy. Our expertise lies in building successful ventures worldwide through our recruitment, interim and executive search in communications, sustainability, public affairs and policy, digital marketing and sales.