Tracy Schmaler, who heads public affairs for the U.S. Dept. of Justice, is leaving March 8 for a slot at ASGK Public Strategies, the firm founded by Obama advisor David Axelrod.
Schmaler's four-year tenure at the Justice Dept., where she was the top spokeswoman and key aide to Attorney General Eric Holder, included PR victories like the defense of the Affordable Care Act and large settlements with mortgage brokers and oil giant BP, as well as crises like the "Fast and Furious" gun scandal.
In a statement, Holder thanked Schmaler for her "wise counsel, loyalty, good humor and unwavering support of me."
Schmaler is slated for a managing director role with ASGK, which operates in D.C., New York and Chicago. AT&T and Edelman PR veteran Eric Sedler is managing partner of the firm.
She previously led public affairs for Yahoo! in Washington and communications director to Sen. Pat Leahy (D-Vt.). She started out as a reporter in Vermont and Massachusetts.
The Justice Dept. has not yet named a successor. Gina Talamona, a Justice vet, and Nanda Chitre, a former Clinton White House press deputy, are deputy directors in the PA unit.
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