David O’Leary
David has more than twenty years of experience in European and international public affairs and communications, advising business leaders, senior politicians, and interest groups.
He began his career in the European Parliament, working as a political assistant to MEPs including the Chair of the Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee.
He then spent nine years at Burson-Marsteller, working on political communications campaigns – including the groundbreaking Europe Decides thought leadership initiative and a wide-ranging, high-level political programme supporting Poland’s Presidency of the EU Council in 2011. He led work on a campaign for a Single Seat for the European Parliament, which won a SABRE Gold Award for Public Affairs Campaign of the Year 2013. David also developed public affairs strategies for clients in the fields of food, health, energy, environment, and digital policy.
More recently, David has been Communications Director at Brussels-based think-tank Friends of Europe and spent five years as global head of communications at the International Fragrance Association.
David is a keen runner, and has completed seven marathons including in Chicago and New York.
Personal motto
From marathon running, but for general application to life: “In the first half, don’t be an idiot; in the second, don’t be a wimp”
Languages
English
French
Contact
Phone: +44 7719 774262
