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.

Contact:
Dragana Bozic
[email protected]
212-681-1380

Strategist Will Expand Firm’s Reach into the Americas

New York – Mercury, a leading global, bipartisan public strategy firm, announced today the addition of Gustavo Arnavat, the former U.S. Executive Director of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), as Co Chairman. Arnavat brings 30 years of experience in international finance, law, economic development, and security to Mercury’s North American operations.

“Mercury is thrilled to add Gustavo to our bipartisan team in the New York City office,” said Mercury Partner Michael McKeon. “Gustavo’s unmatched expertise in global economic and strategic affairs, as well as his deep relationships in the Americas, will no doubt provide invaluable guidance to our clients in the world’s financial capital.”

Arnavat served as an Obama Administration appointee in the IDB for more than four years. During this time, Arnavat also led the U.S. at the Inter-American Investment Corporation and the Multilateral Investment Fund, and was a senior member of the U.S. Treasury Department’s International Affairs team. During his tenure, he negotiated the largest capital increase in the history of the IDB, and approved more than $50 billion in investments in 26 countries in the Americas. Prior to his appointment, Arnavat was a member of the Obama-Biden Transition Team.

A recognized expert on U.S.-Latin American relations, Arnavat also serves as a non-resident Senior Advisor at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, where he focuses on global economic development and the Americas.

“I am excited to join the team at Mercury as it continues to expand internationally,” said Arnavat. “More than any other firm, Mercury’s diverse portfolio of sovereign, corporate, and not-for-profit clients offers the opportunity to integrate my expertise into a wide-ranging global operation.”

Arnavat spent two decades as a corporate and sovereign finance attorney and investment banker in New York before entering the public sector.

A graduate of Cornell University, the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, and the University of Pennsylvania School of Law, Arnavat was selected as one of the 100 most influential Hispanics in the U.S. by Poder Magazine and is on the Board of Directors of the Hispanic Heritage Foundation and the Board of Editors of Americas Quarterly.

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.

Contact:
Dragana Bozic
[email protected]
212-681-1380