Former MEP Julie Girling Joins BCW as Senior AdviserSeptember 12, 2019

BRUSSELS, 12 September 2019 – BCW (Burson Cohn & Wolfe), a leading global communications agency, today announced the appointment of Julie Girling as a Senior Adviser.

Before joining BCW, Girling served for 10 years as Member of the European Parliament for South West England and Gibraltar. Girling was a leading member of the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety Committee and UK spokesperson for agriculture.

London-born Girling, who characterises herself as a “pragmatist,” played a key role in European legislation to protect air quality, tackle climate change (through the EU’s Emissions Trading System) and ensure the safety of chemicals.

Before becoming an MEP in 2009, Girling served as a member and leader of the Cotswold District Council and was also elected to the Gloucestershire County Council, where she was lead cabinet member for the environment. She also served as a member of the South West Regional Assembly.

Girling’s background is in business. She started her career as a buyer for the Argos Catalogue Group and then became a marketing manager for consumer electronics retailer Dixons, before taking a similar role at the Boots/Halfords high street chain.

Karen Massin, CEO of BCW in Brussels, commented: “We are delighted to welcome Julie to the team. She was highly respected during her decade of service as an MEP by industry and NGOs alike for her expertise on environmental, health and agricultural policy. As Senior Adviser, she will be a huge asset for our current and future clients in areas such as sustainability and parliamentary procedure.”

Girling added: “I am very much looking forward to starting this new chapter in my career. In Brussels, BCW has long been recognised as the go-to agency for counsel on environmental and chemical-related issues. I look forward to sharing the knowledge and experience I have gained in business and politics to help clients navigate the legislative landscape and play their part in contributing to a more sustainable future for our planet.”

In agreement with BCW, Girling will voluntarily respect a six-month “cooling-off” period, taking effect from 1 July. During this period, she will refrain from contacting members or officials of the European Parliament on behalf of BCW clients on matters for which she was responsible during her last five-year term in the European Parliament.