blain rethmeierBlain Rethmeier, a former PR advisor to President George W. Bush and top exec of the travel and insurance industry's trade groups, has moved to Edelman as managing director of its West Coast crisis and risk practice.

The firm also recruited Francesca Trainor Alt, global director of reputation risk management at McKinsey & Company, as an executive VP and group head of crisis and risk in New York.

Edelman's crisis and risk chief, Harlan Loeb, said reputation risk has grown "exponentially" in the past six years, putting pressure on CEOs and boards. The firm said its crisis operation, which now staffs 180, has grown 70 percent over the past seven years while revenues ballooned 500 percent.

Rethmeier, who has been running Strategic Action Public Affairs as managing partner for the past three years, was senior VP of PA and government relations for the US Travel Association and senior VP of PA for the American Insurance Assn. He was a special assistant to the President handling communications for the President's National Economic Council and Homeland Security Council. He was also press secretary for the Senate Judiciary Committee through the confirmations of Chief Justice John Roberts and Associate Justice Samuel Alito.

Alt was previously with Hill+Knowlton Strategies in New York and Australia.