A FORMER special adviser to ex-First Minister Arlene Foster has left the party to join a public relations firm.
Richard Bullick, who had worked for the DUP since 2000, served as the party's head of policy between 2002 and 2007 and was heavily involved in negotiations that led to the restoration of devolution.
A trained barrister, he became a special adviser to Peter Robinson when the then DUP leader became first minister in 2008. He stayed at what is now the executive office when Mrs Foster took over in January 2016.
Mr Bullick lost his £92,000-a-year job when power-sharing collapsed in January but had continued to work for the DUP.
Good to see so much well deserved praise for Richard Bullick.
— Nigel Dodds (@NigelDoddsDUP) May 4, 2017
He hasn't gone away you know......
He was seen as a key figure within the party who had helped transform its electoral fortunes.
However he has now left his party role and will join public relations and lobbying firm MCE Public Affairs.
He will become head of public affairs at the firm.
In a statement, MCE Public Affairs said that it was "delighted" to appoint Mr Bullick to the role.
MCE managing director Paul McErlean said: "Richard is widely respected and he has a wealth of experience and insight at all levels of government, which we believe will be of real benefit to our clients".
