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For Immediate Release
Contact:
Doug Thornell
202-464-6918
Veteran Strategist Bill Burton to Join SKDKnickerbocker, Lead New
California Office
Washington, DC (January 28, 2015) – SKDKnickerbocker, a leading strategic communications,
public relations, political consulting and advertising firm, announced today the hiring of Bill
Burton and the opening of a new California office.
Burton, a veteran Democratic strategist, will be joining the firm as a Managing Director in
SKDKnickerbocker Los Angeles. He was among the first hires on President Barack Obama’s
2008 presidential campaign, working as the national press secretary and then serving as White
House Deputy Press Secretary during Obama’s first term. Burton then co-founded and served as
senior strategist for Priorities USA Action, a super PAC dedicated to re-electing Obama that
raised more than $90 million. Most recently, he has served as an advisor to and strategist for
corporations, Fortune 500 companies and non-profits.
“As Santa Barbaran Katy Perry says, ‘nothing comes close to the golden coast,’ which is why I
am proud to open SKDKnickerbocker’s California office,” said Burton, who has already relocated to California. “SKDKnickerbocker is a dynamic firm with the deepest understanding for
public relations, media and changing political landscapes. I look forward to expanding our
presence in California.”
“Bill is a smart and savvy strategist who has considerable experience working in the highest
levels of government, media and political campaigns,” said Anita Dunn, Managing Director of
SKDKnickerbocker. “He will be a tremendous asset in serving our clients and launching our new
California practice. We couldn’t be happier that he is joining SKDKnickerbocker.”
SKDKnickerbocker executives have a range of experience in California politics and the
entertainment and technology industries. The firm has worked with large entertainment
companies including HBO, The Walt Disney Company and the Motion Picture Association of
America, start-ups such as Cuyana, and tech leaders such as Palantir. Managing Director Hilary
Rosen spent 17 years working in the entertainment industry as Chairman and CEO of the
Recording Industry Association of America and later worked with clients such as Live Nation,
Facebook and Yahoo. Managing Director Karen Olick was Chief of Staff to Senator Barbara
Boxer for more than a decade.
“We are excited to be expanding our firm and growing our team with a new office in California,”
said Josh Isay, Managing Director of SKDKnickerbocker. “Bill has been in California
frequently for the past decade and since moving there two years ago has broadened his extensive
political, corporate and community relationships in the state. Bill will extend our presence in
California by bringing SKDKnickerbocker’s unprecedented capabilities and experience
managing a crisis, protecting a brand, advocating an issue and winning elections.”
About SKDKnickerbocker:
SKDKnickerbocker is one of the top communications and political consulting firms in the
country and brings unparalleled strategic communications experience to Fortune 500 companies,
non-profits, philanthropic organizations, labor unions, and political committees and candidates.
There is no company that better understands the intersection of press, politics, and policy.
SKDK offers strategic communications and political consulting on how to manage a crisis,
protect a brand, advocate an issue, or win an election.
To learn more about SKDKnickerbocker click here.
About Bill Burton:
Bill Burton is a Managing Director in SKDKnickerbocker’s California office and leads our
presence in California by bringing SKDK’s unprecedented capabilities and experience managing
a crisis, protecting a brand, advocating an issue and winning elections to the west coast. Before
joining SKDKnickerbocker, Burton served as advisor to corporations such as SpaceX, nonprofits such as the League of Conservation Voters, and other organizations. Burton has also
worked at the highest levels of national politics for 15 years. He was a co-founder and senior
strategist for Priorities USA Action, the super PAC dedicated to the reelection of President
Obama. Priorities has been widely recognized for its success during the election.
Burton was one of the first hires on President Obama’s first presidential campaign, where he was
the national press secretary. He served in the Obama administration as deputy White House
press secretary and special assistant to the President. In that capacity, Burton traveled extensively
with the President both domestically and internationally, briefing reporters both on Air Force
One and at the podium in the White House briefing room.
During the 2006 election cycle, a year when Democrats won a historic number of seats to retake
the majority in the House and Senate, Burton worked as Rahm Emanuel’s communications
director at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. Previously, Burton served as a
communications adviser to Congressman Dick Gephardt, U.S. Senators John Kerry and Tom
Harkin, and others. Burton lives in Santa Barbara with his wife, Laura Burton Capps, and their
son, Oscar.
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