Global public affairs consultancy Interel has announced the addition of leading international public affairs expert Fruzsina Harsanyi as a senior advisor. Dr. Harsanyi will be both a business and knowledge partner to Interel’s growing global practice, with a particular focus on providing senior-level counsel on strategic management of international public affairs programs. Harsanyi will work closely with Interel Group CEO, Fredrik Lofthagen, and the firm’s U.S. director and head of global practice, Jason Jarrell.
Dr. Harsanyi is a highly-respected senior-level corporate public affairs practitioner, previously holding the roles of vice president of public affairs at Tyco and senior vice president for public affairs and corporate communications at ABB Inc. She is a leading thinker and published author on the importance of public affairs as a strategic leadership function and is a driving force behind the idea that a mature, integrated approach to public affairs is essential for the sustainability of global businesses. Dr. Harsanyi is also the director of the Global Government Relations Forum in Washington, D.C., adjunct professor of public affairs at American University, and a board member at the Executive Council on Diplomacy. In her role, she will additionally be part of the new Interel Washington Group (IWG), a partnership of several U.S. firms providing bipartisan government relations and innovative public affairs support at the federal and state levels.
Commenting on the appointment, Dr. Harsanyi said: “I’m very excited to be part of an innovative and pioneering global public affairs firm that understands the critical business value of the function internationally and is helping shape the profession globally.”
Interel’s Fredrik Lofthagen commented: “We are absolutely delighted to have Dr. Harsanyi as part of the Interel family. Her global corporate public affairs perspectives and distinguished thought leadership in the profession will be an asset to Interel and its clients.”