Lobbying World: Motion Picture Association hires Harris, McConnell alums

The Motion Picture Association, a trade group representing major film studios, hired Alivia Roberts and Katherine Grayson as directors of federal government affairs and Charlie Schonberger as manager of federal affairs and trade policy. 

Roberts was most recently special assistant to Vice President Harris, and she is a Justice Department and House Energy and Commerce Committee alum. Grayson was most recently Senate Minority Leader Mitch Mitch McConnell’s (R-Ky.) deputy press secretary and has also worked for the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. Schonberger joins from the National Governors Association, where he was a policy analyst.

Rick Zampelli will join the Cornerstone Government Affairs federal government relations team. Zampelli was most recently director of the U.S. Army Liaison Office to the House of Representatives, representing the Army secretary on Capitol Hill.

FGS Global hired former U.S. Chief of Protocol Capricia Penavic Marshall as a partner. Marshall was previously president, CEO and founder of CPM Global Engagement Strategies and is currently an ambassador-in-residence at the Atlantic Council’s Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center.

BAE Systems promoted Tisha Wright from director of government relations to vice president of executive branch and international government relations. Wright previously served as the legislative assistant to the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and in various roles with the Joint Staff, U.S. Central Command and Air Force. 

Member CEOs of Business Roundtable elected Cisco CEO Chuck Robbins as the next chair of the influential business advocacy group. He will succeed Mary Barra, chair and CEO of General Motors, effective Jan. 1, 2024.