Nigel Wright, Prime Minister Stephen Harper's former chief of staff, has returned to Onex, the private equity group he worked at for more than a decade before making the leap to the political arena in 2010.

Wright is rejoining Onex as a managing director in the buyout firm's offices in London, England, the company said in a press release Monday.

"I am very pleased to be back at Onex and am looking forward to helping build our business," Wright said in the release.

Wright left the Prime Minister's Office in May 2013 after cutting a personal cheque to pay back improper expenses for Senator Mike Duffy.

Onex chair and founder Gerry Schwartz said: "We missed Nigel during his leave of absence and are excited to have him back.

"Nigel is an experienced investor and a great asset to our team," the release said.

Onex only opened its London office two years ago, part of a resurgence in takeover deals in Europe following a crippling banking and credit crisis.