rachel noerdlingerRachel Noerdlinger, chief of staff to New York City First Lady Chirlane McCray until stepping down in November amid scrutiny of her personal life, has landed at Mercury as a managing director for the Omnicom-owned PR and public affairs operation.

Noerdlinger took an unpaid leave in November after reports she was dating a convicted killer critical of the police and the arrest of her 17-year-old son on trespassing charges. Media focus on the $170K-a-year city hall aide became a liability for the administration of Mayor Bill De Blasio, who staunchly defended Noerdlinger.

Noerdlinger ran her own PR firm, Noerdlinger Media, for six years prior to joining the De Blasio administration. She was an advisor and spokeswoman for the Rev. Al Sharpton and his National Action Network and earlier counseled the late Johnnie Cochran. She spent five years as a VP for New York PR shop The Terrie Williams Agency.

Burson-Marsteller alum Kirill Goncharenko is president and founding partner of Mercury in New York.