Lobbying World: Former Rep. Comstock launches fintech group

Former Rep. Barbara Comstock (R-Va.) will lead American Consumer & Investor Institute, a recently launched non-profit focused on expanding access to financial technology platforms. The group’s formation comes as federal regulators aim to increase oversight of fintech and crypto companies, which do not face the same level of scrutiny as banks. Comstock, who is senior counsel at Baker Donelson, chaired the House Science, Space and Technology Committee’s research and technology panel while in Congress.

Deborah Rowea longtime aide to former House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), joined Alpine group as policy director. Rowe joined Hoyer’s office in 2014 and most recently served as a senior adviser to the Maryland Democrat.

Former Democratic Georgia gubernatorial hopeful Stacey Abrams joined Rewiring America as a senior advisor, where she will help lead the nonprofit’s push to connect communities to clean energy incentives and jobs created by the Inflation Reduction Act. Abrams, the former minority leader of the Georgia House and a prominent critic of voter suppression, ran two unsuccessful campaigns for governor.

Robert Zirkelbach joined again Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers in America as executive vice president for public affairs and strategic initiatives. Zirkelbach, a former House GOP aide, was a top executive at PhRMA from 2014 to 2020 before leaving for ExxonMobil. The leading industry lobby group parted ways with some of its top Democratic lobbyists after Democrats included drug price reforms in the Inflation Reduction Act, handing drugmakers their first major defeat in decades.

Lisa Malloy joined British defense contractor BAE systems as senior vice president of communications. Malloy spent nearly 14 years at Intel Corp., most recently leading the company’s global government and manufacturing communications.

The Council for Public Affairs promoted Kristin Brackemyre to senior director of its public affairs practice and Victoria Ellington to senior manager for political engagement. Brackemyre previously managed PAC and government relations for the group, while Ellington was PAC and grassroots manager.

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