Darren Murphy
Ideas. Insight. Impact
For four decades, Darren Murphy has worked at the nexus of government, business and academia.
In July 2024, 21 years after his previous period of public service, Darren Murphy returned to government as a Special Adviser to the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology before joining the Department for Business and Trade in 2025.
He had previously spent 8 years as a Special Adviser in Tony Blair’s government, including as an adviser to the Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Health.
Outside of government, he spent two decades working in professional services at the most senior levels: founder, chief executive, managing director and global chairman. As a political consultant, Darren has personally advised heads of state and government, political leaders, public and private enterprises, reformers and regulators in Europe, Latin America, Africa and Asia.
After his successful business career, Darren entered academia to focus on strategic leadership, trust and distrust, and their impact on successful peace processes. His PhD thesis, ‘Dealing with distrust – Negotiating the Good Friday Agreement’, builds an innovative causal theory explaining how a subnational peace agreement was achieved amid enduring distrust.
Contact: darren@darrenmurphy.uk
Experience
September 2025 to July 2026
Special Adviser to the Secretary of State for Business and Trade
Responsible for all aspects of the Department’s work, from international trade to business start-ups, spin-outs and scale-ups, employment rights, regulatory reform, industrial policy and intervention.
July 2024 to September 2025
Special Adviser to the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology
Responsible for all aspects of the Department’s work, from AI to Online Safety, Life Sciences to university research & development, regulatory innovation to space and science.
January 2017 to September 2021
Political Consultant
Freelance poliPcal consultant focussing on developing public-focused communications strategies and campaigns on issues-based causes.
August 2014 to December 2021
Chairman, Bell Pottinger Geopolitical
Overseeing 20 senior consultants, working across the globe, on reputation recovery and protection, crisis management, election campaigns and communications for governments, corporates and individuals. Responsible for internal organisational analysis, business development and budget planning, for the company’s most successful revenue generating practice (£250k revenue per head). Strategic planning and execution of numerous campaign projects, at home and abroad.
2011 to 2014
Chief Executive and founder, Centreground Political Communications Ltd
An international political communications and campaigns consultancy (sold to Bell Pottinger in July 2014). Founded and proactively led the £million business – from concept, through start-up, to successful acquisition – with responsibility for budget planning, staff recruitment and development, new business development and international assignment execution. Developing and delivering a number of successful election campaigns. Qualitative opinion research into controversial areas of public policy and government priorities in UK and internationally to develop campaigns and communications strategies for changing public attitudes on issues, policy and performance.
2005 to 2011
Managing Director, APCO Worldwide, London
Responsible for establishing and operating APCO’s Global Political Strategies Group, a specialist international advisory and public diplomacy service. Global chair of APCO Worldwide’s Services to Governments practice.
2003 to 2005
Special Adviser for Political Communications to Prime Minister Tony Blair, 10 Downing Street.
Responsible for message development and deployment, strategic communications and campaigns for the Prime Minister, Cabinet and across government. Development and delivery of the PM’s ‘masochism strategy’ to change public perceptions of Mr Blair post-Iraq War. Advised on successful election campaigns – including innovative content, creative story development, TV and radio party political broadcasts, all media appearances.
March to May 2003
Special Adviser, Coalition Information Centre, Iraq Conflict, Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Responsible for coordinating all strategic public-facing communications across the Coalition of the Willing during the invasion of Iraq and the removal of Saddam Hussein.
1999 to 2003
Special Adviser to the Secretary of State for Health
Responsible for all strategic communications across the department from crisis management, to the NHS Plan, through all aspects of service reform, for traditional broadcast and print media and emerging digital and social media platforms. Alongside Alan Milburn MP and Simon Stevens, co-authored the ground-breaking NHS 10 Year Plan for investment and reform in the health service, which reduced waiting lists and times to historically low levels, raised standards and reformed the patients experience.
1992 to 1997
Special Adviser to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Local Government
Responsible for policy development and presentation in local government, housing and urban and regional regeneration.
1992 to 1997
Economic Development Consultant
European Economic Development Services Ltd, Hexham, Northumberland
1989 to 1997
Economic Development Strategy and European Manager
North Tyneside Council
Education
2021 – 2026
Doctoral Researcher on International Relations
School of Government, University of Birmingham
Thesis title: ‘Dealing with distrust – Negotiating the Good Friday Agreement – a causal theory explaining the achievement of a successful subnational peace agreement in an atmosphere of enduring distrust’. Thesis submitted Summer 2026.
2019 – 2020
MSc in Global Cooperation and Security with distinction
School of Government, University of Birmingham
1985 – 1989
BA (Hons) History and Politics (2:1)
University of Newcastle Upon Tyne
