Ogilvy Government Relations shakes up leadership

By Kevin Bogardus - 06/20/12 11:37 AM ET

There has been a leadership shake-up at Ogilvy Government Relations after several Republican lobbyists decided to leave the firm.

Drew Maloney, the firm’s CEO, is leaving the K Street shop to serve as the external affairs adviser to the Republican National Committee for presumptive GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney’s campaign.

John O’Neill and Elena Tompkins are also exiting the firm. O’Neill will be joining Capitol Counsel, another lobby shop, as tax counsel and principal. Tompkins will start her own lobby firm.

“After many great years with the team at Ogilvy Government Relations, I’m thrilled to be venturing out on my own,” Tompkins told The Hill. Her firm, Tompkins Strategies, will launch July 1.

“As one of the preeminent tax lobbying firms in Washington, Capitol Counsel has a reputation for delivering strong results for top corporations, trade associations and coalitions,” O'Neill said in a statement.

The departures come from one of K Street’s most successful firms. Ogilvy, which is owned by WPP, earned $19.9 million in lobbying fees for 2011, a 14 percent jump from their $17.5 million take in 2010. The departures bring Ogilvy’s roster from 14 lobbyists down to 11.

“We are moving forward,” Gordon Taylor with Ogilvy told The Hill. “As one of the leading government relations firms in Washington, we have some of the best talent and the best clients. We are committed to both.”

In the shift in management, Chris Giblin, a GOP lobbyist, will take Maloney’s spot as CEO. Taylor, a Democratic lobbyist, will remain as Ogvily president and have day-to-day operational control of the firm.

“I am eager to build on the great work Ogilvy Government Relations has done and to increase the value and expertise we offer to our clients. With our deep bench and extensive bipartisan experience, OGR will continue to be a power player among lobbying firms in the Washington area,” Giblin said in a statement.