Gavin Devine

This article is part of the Lobbying Portal, a sunlight project from Spinwatch.

This article is part of the Revolving Door project of Spinwatch.

Gavin Devine is a former UK senior civil servant turned major league lobbyist.

Devine is chief operating officer of Porta Communications, which owns the now merged planning lobbying agency PPS Group and Newgate Communications. He joined the company in 2016, having previously been chief operating officer of MHP Communications.

Devine is the former deputy chair of the UK's Association of Professional Political Consultants (APPC).

Porta has faced a significant share price drop since November 2015, which has recovered slightly since several management changes including Devine.

Background

According to his biography on MHP's website:

Devine joined AS Biss & Co, one of MHP’s predecessor consultancies, in 2004, having previously been a senior civil servant working in the House of Commons. In more than a decade in Parliament Gavin worked in the legislation service and managed the secretariats of a number of Select Committees.

Since joining the company Gavin has provided senior strategic advice to a number of high profile organisations including Crossrail, Kraft Foods, EDF Energy and Network Rail. As a former Clerk of the Transport Committee he has had a long association and involvement with the transport sector. He has worked closely with some of the most significant transport organisations, giving them the business and communications advice they have needed to flourish and grow. Gavin was awarded an MBA in 2004.

Clients

Devine was the head of transport at MHP. Clients he has advised include Crossrail, Kraft Foods, EDF Energy and Network Rail.

Resources

See: Fracking lobbying firms

• Melissa Jones and Andy Rowell, Access all areas: Westminster's (vast) fracking lobby exposed, 29 April 2015.