Acting FCC Press Secretary Exiting

Rob Kenny, who has been acting press secretary for Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski, is leaving to become a senior VP in the Washington office of Mercury, a public affairs/lobbying firm whose clients include the National Association of Broadcasters and AT&T.

Starting in early May, Kenny will handle media relations and focus on healthcare and telecom, though not exclusively. Kenny worked with some of the Mercury executive when he was director of public affairs for the New York State Health Department in the 1990s and early 2000s. Kenny has been on loan to the chairman from the Homeland Security and Public Safety Bureau, where he has been director of media relations. That was a permanent job. He was also acting press secretary under FCC Chairman Kevin Martin. He has been in public service for 22 years; this will be his first foray into the private sector.