Communications Staff Changes At FCC

FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski today announced that Neil Grace, who previously served as the chairman’s press secretary, will take on a new role as senior communications adviser to the FCC.  In addition, Chairman Genachowski announced that Justin Cole will succeed Grace as press secretary. 

Genachowki said: “As press secretary, Neil has been essential to building and delivering the news about our initiatives, working both within and beyond the Federal Communications Commission to help drive our agenda to increase broadband access and adoption. His substantive counsel has made him an invaluable leader at the agency.

“I am pleased to welcome Justin to our incredibly talented and dedicated staff at the FCC,” Genachowki continued. “His leadership, expertise and insights will be invaluable additions to our communications team as we continue our effort to unleash the opportunities of broadband for all Americans.” 

Before joining the FCC, Grace was director of issues and crisis practice for Burson-Marsteller, managing media relations on behalf of dozens of technology and telecommunications clients for the New York-based consulting firm. He led media campaigns for corporations, associations and government agencies on a number of issues ranging from intellectual property, international trade, automotive and energy and sustainability in the marketplace. Grace graduated from Georgetown University.

Cole most recently served as the lead corporate communications manager for Tata Communications (America) Inc., where he was responsible for overseeing all corporate and external communications and media relations for the company related to its telecommunications and Enterprise IT business lines. Prior to joining Tata, Cole was a deputy editor for Fitch Ratings. In this role, he worked with Fitch Ratings’ global analyst staff and oversaw the management and publication of sovereign and institutional commentaries, reports and rating actions.

Before joining Fitch Ratings, Cole was a business and economics correspondent for Agence France-Presse in the news agency’s Washington bureau. He also worked as a business and energy journalist for Dow Jones & Co. Cole is a graduate in comparative American studies from The University of Warwick, England.