HP hires new top lobbyist

Hewlett-Packard announced Tuesday it had chosen Gregg Melinson to serve as its new vice president of global government affairs.

He will be based in HP's headquarters in Palo Alto, Calif., and serve as deputy general counsel for the company.

For much of the last 20 years, Melinson has been a partner at the law firm Drinker Biddle & Reath. From 1995 to 1997, he served as deputy general counsel to then-Gov. Tom Ridge (R-Pa.).

Melinson succeeds Larry Irving as HP's head of government affairs. Irving, a former technology adviser to President Clinton, left HP in June.

Melinson will begin his new job on Sept. 19.