Senior search for the government affairs leaders who shape policy and protect commercial advantage.

Hanson Search’s Government Affairs Executive Search practice, part of Hanson Corporate, helps organisations hire the leaders who manage their relationships with government, regulators and policymakers. We place Directors and Heads of Government Affairs who read political risk early, build the right relationships and turn policy into commercial advantage.

We advise global corporates, trade associations, regulated industries, think tanks and the investors behind them, across the UK, Europe, the US and the Middle East.

Our Government Affairs Executive Search practice covers the senior end of the function.

We place Directors of Government Affairs, Heads of Government Affairs, VPs of Government Affairs, Directors of External Affairs and Heads of Public Affairs.

We also lead government affairs recruitment for senior policy, government relations and regulatory affairs leaders, including the specialists who manage relationships with Westminster, Whitehall and the EU institutions.

This work spans energy, financial services, healthcare, technology and trade bodies. Whatever the title or sector, the brief is the same. Clients want a leader who can anticipate policy change, advise the board with authority and influence the people who shape the rules.

Why Government Affairs Hiring Has Become Harder

The brief has changed faster than the talent market can supply, and two shifts explain why.

The remit has widened. A senior government affairs leader now covers regulation, energy and sustainability policy, geopolitical risk and reputation at once, often across several markets. As a result, the pool able to operate at this level is small and closely networked.

The best leaders are rarely looking. They are trusted advisers inside their organisations, not candidates on a job board. For this reason, they have to be approached directly and discreetly, which is exactly how we work.

Why Organisations Choose Hanson Search

Every Government Affairs Executive Search we run is led personally by a senior consultant, from first briefing to signed offer. We headhunt directly rather than work from databases, because the strongest leaders are never advertising that they are open.

We map the market widely across corporates, trade bodies, consultancies and government itself, and we assess every candidate on political judgment, stakeholder credibility and the leadership presence to advise at board level.

Diverse and inclusive shortlists are prioritised on every mandate. As a B Corp with more than twenty years behind us, responsible search is built into how we work.

Hire Government Affairs Talent

If you are appointing a Director or Head of Government Affairs, our team would welcome a confidential conversation. The practice is led by Janie Emmerson, Managing Partner, and Peter Ferguson, Managing Consultant. We advise organisations across the UK, Europe, the USA and the Middle East, from global corporates to trade associations and regulated industries. Get in touch with our team to start the conversation.

Government Affairs Executive Search FAQs

What is government affairs executive search?

Government affairs executive search is a retained, headhunted process for hiring senior leaders who manage an organisation’s relationships with government, regulators and policymakers. Hanson Search places Directors and Heads of Government Affairs across the UK, Europe, the US and the Middle East.

What roles does Hanson Search recruit in government affairs?

We place Directors of Government Affairs, Heads of Government Affairs, VPs of Government Affairs, Directors of External Affairs and Heads of Public Affairs, along with senior policy, government relations and regulatory affairs leaders.

Which sectors do you cover for government affairs recruitment?

We run government affairs search across energy, financial services, healthcare, technology and regulated industries, as well as for trade associations, think tanks and the investors behind them.