Communications & Litigation Expert Joins DC Office
Washington, D.C. – Mercury, a leading global, bipartisan public strategy firm, announced the addition of Ian Prior to its Washington, D.C. office. Most recently, Prior served as Principal Deputy Director of Public Affairs for the Department of Justice, and previously worked as the Communications Director for American Crossroads and the Senate Leadership Fund. He will begin his tenure with Mercury as a Vice President on July 30th .
“We are pleased to welcome Ian to the Mercury team in our nation’s capital” said Mercury Partner Vin Weber. “Ian brings an exceptional combination of experience, working for years at the crossroads of government, politics and media. His sharp strategic view, coupled with a tested knowledge of complex legal issues are a great addition for Mercury and our clients.”
Over the course of his career Prior has gained unique expertise, both as a seasoned political communications strategist and an attorney with significant jury trial experience. He was appointed as the Principal Deputy Director of Public Affairs at the Department of Justice in March 2017 and served in that role through July 2018. At DOJ, he helped provide strategic public affairs guidance to the Attorney General, Deputy Attorney General, and Associate Attorney General. Prior also served as the primary spokesperson and media strategist for the Department’s National Security Division and Antitrust Division. In addition, he managed the Department’s public affairs strategies in its efforts to combat the deadly opioid crisis and enhance the nation’s cybersecurity. During his tenure, Prior also provided public affairs guidance in the nomination and confirmation of FBI Director Christopher Wray.
Before his appointment at the Department of Justice, Prior served as Communications Director and Spokesperson for American Crossroads and Senate Leadership Fund, two top Republican Super PACs that helped preserve the Republican Senate majority in 2016. He also worked at the National Republican Congressional Committee as the National Press Secretary and helped Republicans build a historic majority in the House during the 2014 cycle. From 2002 to 2012, before transitioning to politics and public relations, Prior was a successful trial attorney in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
“I am thrilled to be joining Mercury and am excited for the opportunity to work alongside such a phenomenal team of policy and public affairs experts,” said Prior. “I am grateful for the once-in-a-lifetime experience of serving in the Department of Justice and look forward to applying the skills I have developed in the highest level of government, politics, and in the legal arena to help shape dynamic public affairs strategies for Mercury’s clients.”
About Mercury
Mercury is a high-stakes, bipartisan public strategy firm. The firm provides a comprehensive suite of services that includes federal government relations, international affairs, digital influence, public opinion research, media strategy and a bipartisan grassroots mobilization network in all 50 states. Our firm is not just led by top talent — we distinguish ourselves by having senior talent deeply engaged in each project from start to finish, a promise we keep to clients. The firm has an established global presence, with U.S. offices in Washington, DC, New York, California, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Florida, and Tennessee, as well as international offices in London and Mexico City. Mercury is a part of the Omnicom Public Relations Group.
About Omnicom Public Relations Group
Omnicom Public Relations Group is a global collective of three of the top global public relations agencies worldwide and specialist agencies in areas including public affairs, marketing to women, fashion, public health and corporate social responsibility. It encompasses more than 6,000 public relations professionals in more than 330 offices worldwide who provide their expertise to companies, government agencies, NGOs and nonprofits across a wide range of industries. Omnicom Public Relations Group delivers for clients through a relentless focus on talent, continuous pursuit of innovation and a culture steeped in collaboration. Omnicom Public Relations Group is part of the DAS Group of Companies, a division of Omnicom Group Inc. that includes more than 200 companies in a wide range of marketing disciplines including advertising, public relations, healthcare, customer relationship management, events, promotional marketing, branding and research.
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