By Kevin McCauley
Cyprus, which Merrill Lynch says may be the first country to exit the Eurozone, has signed Podesta Group to a $1.1M one-year contract to improve its image in the U.S.
Photo: Cyprus Tourism |
The Cypriot banking sector is on the verge of collapse, which has triggered protracted bailout negotiations with the International Monetary Fund and European Union.
Cyprus is slated to hold presidential elections in February. Current left-wing president Demetris Christofias has announced that he will not seek re-election.
Podesta Group’s $90K-a-month retainer contract calls for working the Obama administration, Congress, think tanks, universities, media, and grassroots groups on behalf of Cyprus.
The firm’s Cypriot government relations team is headed by Tony Podesta and Stephen Rademaker, former Assistant Secretary of State and Policy Director for then-Majority Leader Bill Frist. Other members include Vin Roberti, Rich White, Jim Dyer, Tim Glassco, Andrew Kauders, Jessica Lawrence-Vaca, Molly McKew and Javier Sancho.
PG also has a five-member communications unit, which is led by former Washington Post foreign correspondent John Ward Anderson, working the account. He’s joined by Kevin Griffis, Erin Billings, Andy Amsler and David Kusnet. |