Errol Cockfield, a senior VP at Edelman and political alum, is shifting to MSNBC as senior VP of communications for the network.
Cockfield, who oversees communications and media strategy, reports to senior VP of News Group communications Mark Kornblau, and network president Phil Griffin.
He was a senior VP in Edelman's New York corporate and public affairs unit after serving as chief of staff and director of communications for the New York State Senate Democratic Conference.
He also was a press secretary for Govs. Eliot Spitzer and David Paterson and started out in journalism with Newsday, the Hartford Courant and Los Angeles Times.
MSNBC last year overhauled its progressive-leaning programming to focus more on hard news ahead of the 2016 presidential election.
Obama alum Rachel Racusen did a year-long stint as VP of communications for MSNBC until last June.
Why CEO visibility is no longer optional as a communications tactic.
The “waiting period” that was once set aside for CEOs to develop their strategies before facing media scrutiny may be better used for corporate comms leaders get to know their CEO and what his or her short-term priorities will be.
Senior-most communications executives in the Fortune 500 earned between $50,000 and $100,000 more this year than they did two years ago, according to a recent survey of chief communications officers.
