MSNBC has reached into the White House in naming Rachel Racusen as vice president of communications.
Based in New York, she will report to MSNBC president Phil Griffin. Starting Dec. 8, Racusen will be responsible for setting the communications and media strategy for MSNBC, partnering with editorial and business leads at the network. She also will serve as lead spokesperson for MSNBC.
“I’m thrilled to add Rachel to our senior team. She has great experience, she’s creative, strategic and passionate about our brand,” said Griffin. “She’ll be a tremendous asset to the network.”
Since 2013, Racusen has served as associate communications director at the White House, where she developed and implemented comprehensive communication plans for President Obama and senior White House officials. She played a key role in devising press strategies for the President’s domestic events and major policy announcements, including the State of the Union address, Climate Action Plan, the White House Working Families Summit, the economic agenda, and in responding to the situation in Ferguson and the Ebola crisis.
Prior to her role at the White House, Racusen served as the National Deputy Communications Director for the President's 2012 re-election campaign, and as the Deputy Communications Director for the 2013 Presidential Inaugural Committee. In 2010 she was named director of public affairs for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, where she oversaw all communications and served as the agency’s primary spokesperson.
