Ambassador James K. Glassman -- Former Journalist, Think Tank Executive, And Diplomat-- Joins Public Affairs Engagement As Chairman And CEO

Founding Executive Director of George W. Bush Institute, ex-Under Secretary of State, and Roll Call editor, he will lead bipartisan strategic communications firm

WASHINGTON, Sept. 26, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- James K. Glassman, whose career spans journalism, diplomacy, academia, and business, will be joining Public Affairs Engagement (PAE), a full-service public affairs firm as chairman and CEO, Rick Shapiro, PAE's president, announced today.

"In many ways, Jim Glassman wrote the book on modern public affairs, from shaping international communications at the State Department to running some of the top publications in Washington," Shapiro said. "He has a tremendous amount of experience building successful businesses and influencing public policy debates, and I'm delighted he has chosen to join PAE.  With Jim at the helm, PAE is poised to grow, and we are excited to get started."

Glassman joins the firm after four years setting up the Bush Institute, part of the George W. Bush Presidential Center in Dallas, after a long and varied career in Washington. In 2008 he served as Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, and was charged with leading the government-wide international strategic communications effort. Glassman incorporated Internet technology into outreach efforts, an approach he christened "Public Diplomacy 2.0."

An article in Newsweek about his tenure at the State Department said, "James K. Glassman, as they say in Washington, gets it…. Glassman has finally figured out how to sell the American idea abroad." He now will be applying the same expertise on behalf of PAE's clients.

Ambassador Glassman started his career by founding a weekly newspaper in New Orleans. He went on to become executive editor of The Washingtonian, publisher of The New Republic, president of the Atlantic Monthly, executive vice president of U.S. News & World Report, and editor and co-owner of Roll Call, the Congressional newspaper. He was a financial and political columnist for the Washington Post and the International Herald Tribune.  

Prior to his time at State, Glassman served as chairman of the Broadcasting Board of Governors, directing all non-military, taxpayer-funded U.S. international broadcasting, including Voice of America, Radio Free Europe, and Alhurra TV.  He was a fellow and then senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) in Washington, D.C., from 1996 to 2008, specializing in economics and technology. He rejoined AEI last month as a visiting fellow.

"I have always enjoyed building businesses and love the idea of joining a new firm," Glassman said. "PAE has a broad base with some large and impressive corporate clients. My focus to start will be on expanding the firm's practice in areas I know best, like media, finance, international business and foundations.  I'm looking forward to working with Rick and the rest of the leadership team at PAE."

PAE, a bipartisan public affairs firm headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, was founded in 2012 and provides clients nationwide with strategic counsel, public relations, and strategic partnership services.

Contact:
Elizabeth Heaton at (202) 725-8785
[email protected]

SOURCE Public Affairs Engagement (PAE)