 |
| Brian Symmes |
Brian Symmes, who was deputy chief of staff for communications for South Carolina governor Henry McMaster has joined McGuireWoods Consulting.
He began his career as deputy press secretary for then-SC governor Nikki Haley in 2013 and took over the communications team when McMaster took the reins at the Palmetto State.
Symmes was McMaster’s chief spokesperson and primary contact for cabinet agency directors and public information officers looking for media relations guidance.
He also led crisis communications during natural disasters (hurricanes and floods) and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Jim Hodges, ex-SC governor and MWC president, called Symmes “a skilled communicator and problem solver” with extensive relationships with state’s business, political and government leaders.
MWC’s SC office is in Columbia.
Ballard Partners has signed to a represent the US unit of Rheinmetall, Germany’s biggest defense contractor, on Army procurement issues.
BGR Group signs on to provide lobbying and PR services for Terzo, an AI financial intelligence platform. Douglas Lute, chair of BGR’s international and defense practices, will join Terzo’s board of directors.
Avoq has landed Palantir Technologies, the controversial surveillance company founded by right-wing billionaire Peter Thiel, as a client.
Anne Kierig, who was senior manager of public policy at Amazon, has joined the American Advertising Federation as VP-government affairs. She takes over for Clark Rector, who is retiring after a 37-year run at AAF.
TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC, which was established in compliance with the executive order signed by President Trump, has hired Valcour LLC, which has close ties with his administration.
