BERLIN — Brunswick Group has hired public affairs veteran Michael Wedell as a partner in its Berlin office, after 25 years in-house in senior corporate and government relations roles.

Wedell joins the strategic advisory firm from German multinational retailer Metro, where he was a senior vice president and led the corporate communications and public policy departments.

He was previously director of corporate affairs at Dresdner Bank and, before that, head of public affairs and government relations for Vodafone Germany. He has also worked as a senior advisor to the Green parliamentary group in the German Bundestag.

Brunswick CEO Neal Wolin said: “I am delighted to welcome Michael to the firm. He has an outstanding reputation, and his deep experience will make him a terrific addition to our Berlin office. He will be of great value to our clients in Germany and around the world.”

Wedell added: “Having spent 25 years in-house, I am now pleased to be able to contribute my experience to Brunswick’s international network. More than ever, it is imperative for companies to understand not just the concerns of business, but also how they interact with those of politics and wider civil society.”