We have strengthened our corporate affairs offer with the appointment of Max McKeown as Political Monitoring Manager, supporting the expansion of our specialist political monitoring services.

Active across Wales and England for the past ten years, we already provide insight and advice to a range of businesses, charities and organisations focused on energy, infrastructure, environment, placemaking, and health.

Max brings extensive experience in political monitoring and will oversee the day-to-day delivery of all our monitoring services. His appointment coincides with the launch of an expanded suite of sector-focused political monitoring packages concentrating on:

• Energy and infrastructure
• Health and wellbeing

This adds to our growing corporate affairs team, which has a track record of delivering strategic political campaigns on a range of high-profile infrastructure projects including floating offshore wind, hydrogen production and carbon capture and storage. Work has also included promoting causes across the health and wellbeing sector such as young people’s health services and wellbeing advocacy services.

Talking about the new appointment, founding director Clare Jones said:

“The political landscape is becoming increasingly fragmented and complex, so meaningful insight and analysis is essential to help shape campaigns that have both purpose and impact. Max’s appointment ensures we can meet the needs of our growing portfolio of clients, providing timely and targeted information that can drive real impact and influence.”

Head of corporate affairs, Craig Lawton added:

“Polling suggests there will be significant changes coming at the Senedd election in Wales and Local Government elections in parts of England.

“2026 is therefore going to be crucial for businesses and charities as they work to stay on the front foot, understand how government plans affect them, and ensure their projects and causes are heard and understood by politicians and decision makers.” 

As well as delivering its specialist, sector-specific weekly reports, our Senedd Daily Digest service will offer an overview of all the latest and most important updates from Welsh politics.

Max McKeown, newly appointed political monitoring manager, added:

“I’m looking forward to bringing my monitoring experience to Grasshopper to deliver not only timely information, but also bespoke advice and proposed next steps for our energy and health clients.

“Knowing what is happening in politics only gets you so far. At Grasshopper we are using our extensive insight and sector knowledge to ensure our clients get the right advice on what political announcements and news means for them, as well as what they should be doing next in order to progress their campaigns.”

Free trials launched

Throughout the new year, we will be offering free trials of both its Senedd Daily Digest service and its specialist monitoring packages focussing on energy and Infrastructure, and health and wellbeing.

In addition, we are also able to offer bespoke, tailored, wider reaching reporting services upon request.

For more information on our monitoring packages and to find out which is right for you, please contact Craig Lawton, Head of Corporate Affairs