US industry group replaces spokesman with politico

Industry lobbying group the Private Equity Growth Capital Council (PEGCC), formerly known as the Private Equity Council, has recruited US Republican party offical Ken Spain as vice president of public affairs and communications. 

Spain is best known for his work as communications director of the National Republican Congressional Committee, where he “played a key role in steering Republicans to a 63-seat gain as they captured a majority in the US House of Representatives”, according to a statement from the PEGCC.

During the most recent election cycle, as director, he headed an 11-strong communications team responsible for shaping the US political party's message during the 2010 general election. In the 2008 election cycle, he was the organisation's press secretary.

Prior to joining the NRCC, Spain was involved with the 2004 Bush/Cheney presidential campaign. He has also worked for Republican congressmen Mike Conaway and John Shadegg.

The PEGCC's top priority in the next two years “is to tell the private equity success story state by state and district by district and Ken brings the proven communications and campaign management skills to help us accomplish that goal”, Douglas Lowenstein, PEGCC's president and chief executive officer, said in a statement.

Spain replaces Robert Stewart, who is joining public affairs group The Wade Group.

PEGCC, the private equity industry's lobbying group, boasts having a 32 membership roster, including such giants as The Blackstone Group, The Carlyle Group and Kohlberg Kravis & Roberts.

The council's founding members agreed earlier this year to open membership to many other US private equity firms to better portray the asset class to lawmakers as a diverse collection of business builders and entrepreneurs.