Former White House Press Secretary Under President Clinton Will Provide Reputation Counsel to CEOs and C-Suite Executives
Edelman has named White House and industry veteran Joe Lockhart vice chairman, Public Affairs. Lockhart, former press secretary under President Bill Clinton and co-founder of Glover Park Group, will provide reputation counsel to CEOs and C-suite executives. He will be based in Edelman’s Washington, D.C. office, one of the firm’s leading centers for reputation, issues and modern crisis management.
“Companies are now expected to be out front on issues like automation, immigration and sustainability, and advising CEOs on how to navigate this new terrain is essential,” said Richard Edelman, president and CEO of Edelman. “Joe’s experience in providing counsel to the former president, presidential candidates and some of the world’s leading CEOs will make him an invaluable advisor to clients.”
Lockhart, a longtime-D.C. veteran, was most recently executive vice president of communications and public affairs for the National Football League. Previously, Lockhart joined Facebook, leading the social networking giant’s corporate, policy and international communications team. After leaving the Clinton White House in 2000, he co-founded and became managing director of the D.C.-based communications firm Glover Park, where he worked until 2011. Lockhart’s history in politics began with his work on Jimmy Carter’s 1980 presidential re-election campaign. He would go on to serve as assistant press secretary for Walter Mondale’s 1984 presidential campaign and then deputy press secretary for Michael Dukakis’s presidential run. In 2004, Lockhart advised John Kerry in his 2004 presidential bid.
“I’m thrilled to be joining a firm that has worked on some of the most significant public affairs and corporate reputation campaigns in the history of this industry,” said Lockhart. “Edelman has a great roster of clients and an exceptional team of global public affairs, corporate and reputation specialists that I’m looking forward to working with. I’ve long admired the work the firm has done and am eager to get started.”
About Edelman
Edelman is a leading global communications marketing firm that partners with many of the world’s largest and emerging businesses and organizations, helping them evolve, promote and protect their brands and reputations. Among its many honors, the firm was awarded the Cannes Lions Grand Prix for PR, named one of 2018 “Agencies to Watch” by Advertising Age and “Global Agency of the Year” by both the Holmes Report and PRWeek, and cited five times by Glassdoor as one of the “Best Places to Work.” Edelman owns specialty firms Edelman Intelligence (research) and United Entertainment Group (entertainment, sports, lifestyle).