Rob Nichols, the former Treasury Dept. public affairs chief who leads the Financial Services Forum, has been tapped as president and CEO of the American Bankers Association in Washington.
Nichols, assistant secretary of Treasury for PA during President George W. Bush's first term, will take the ABA reins from former Oklahoma Gov. Frank Keating, who steps down after four years.
ABA chair John Ikard said Nichols fit the bill with policy savvy, understanding of the banking system and a strong record of management and bipartisan advocacy, traits sought as "the banking industry is undergoing a great deal of change."
The appointment comes as the ABA, which reps the $15B banking sector, continues its assault on the Dodd-Frank Act, the sweeping financial reform that ratcheted up regulations on banks in the wake of the financial crisis.
Since 2005, Nichols has led the Financial Services Forum, the policy shop of financial sector CEOs.
Nichols previously led PR for the Electronics Industries Alliance and earlier was a Hill and White House aide.
Sherrie Mazur will join the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation as managing director, of communications on Feb. 14. 
Independent Diplomat, the nonprofit that promotes democracy by organizing opposition movements and activists, has trained its sights on Venezuela.
Robert Tappan has joined the International BioMetrics + Identity Assoc., the trade group for the identity technology industry.
Tiffany Haverly, who was at Finsbury Glover Hering, has joined the Internet Association as director of communications.
BGR Government Affairs represents the American Chamber of Commerce in South China as economic and political tensions between the two countries escalate.
Have a comment? Send it to 
No comments have been submitted for this story yet.