David Harley, the former Deputy Secretary General of the European Parliament, is to join Burson-Marsteller (BM) as a Senior Advisor from 1 April this year. In his new post, Harley will act as a strategic adviser to BM’s clients in Brussels and internationally. He brings with him a wealth of experience in the EU institutions and working with the media.

Harley began a long and distinguished career in the European Parliament in 1975. His first prominent role in Brussels, between 1987 and 1989, was as Advisor to the then European Parliament President Lord Plumb. In 1999, Harley was appointed Director of Information of the Parliament ­ and then, in 2002, Director of Media and Spokesman for then European Parliament President Pat Cox. In 2004, he became Secretary General of the Parliamentary Group of the Party of European Socialists, before assuming the role of Deputy Secretary General of the European Parliament in 2007.

In addition to Harley having fully complied with the requirements under the rules for senior officials leaving the European Parliament, he and BM have agreed at their own initiative that he will not have any contact with Parliament staff or Members on behalf of BM or its clients for a period of six months after leaving the institution on 28 February 2010.

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