After university, Hurd ran his own business and represented a British bank in Brazil. In 2002, he set up the Small Business Network to advise the Conservative Party on business policy. Later he worked as Chief of Staff to Tim Yeo MP, who at the time was Shadow Secretary of State for Environment and Transport, and in the Conservative Research Department.
Parliamentary career
Hurd served as the Convenor of the Climate Change working group of the Conservative Party's Quality of Life Policy Group[3] from 2006 to 2008. He has also served as a member of the Environmental Audit Select Committee (EAC) before becoming a minister. In May 2016, he was given the Green Ribbon Political Award as Parliamentarian of the year (MP), citing his work on the EAC and in promoting action against climate change while at DFID where he led the Energy Africa initiative promoting greater access to sustainable energy.[4]
Hurd was promoted by David Cameron to the Opposition Whips' office in July 2007. He served as Opposition Whip until his appointment as Shadow Minister for Charities, Social Enterprise and Volunteering in October 2008. Hurd succeeded Amber Rudd as Minister for Climate Change and Industry, and served from July 2016 to June 2017. He was previously Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for International Development from November 2015 following the resignation of Grant Shapps[6] until the reshuffle following the appointment of Theresa May as Prime Minister in July 2016. During the Cameron–Clegg coalition he served as Minister for Civil Society from May 2010 until July 2014,[7] during which time he led the work on setting up the National Citizen Service and Big Society Capital.[8]
Hurd announced his intention not to stand in the 2019 general election, citing personal reasons.[9] He did not resign any of his ministerial roles and continued in them until the formation of the next government.
Career outside Parliament
After leaving Parliament Hurd took a role at Francis Maude Associates, a consultancy established by Francis Maude and Simone Finn.[10] In 2021, he chaired the G7's Impact Taskforce focused on mobilizing private capital by advocating for globally consistent standards to measure, value, and account for sustainability.[11]
Personal life
Hurd speaking in 2013
Hurd met his first wife Kim Richards at Oxford University, and they married at Eton Chapel in 1988. The couple had two sons and two daughters together.[12] In 2008, they divorced after twenty years of marriage.[citation needed]
In 2010, Hurd married Lady Clare Kerr, daughter of the Conservative politician the 13th Marquess of Lothian (commonly known as Michael Ancram), after meeting at a party the previous year.[13] On 17 May 2012, Lady Clare Hurd gave birth to a baby girl, Leila.[14] A son, Caspar Jamie Hurd, was born on 30 September 2014.[15]
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