WASHINGTON, DC—Joe Lockhart, who served as White House press spokesman and senior adviser to President Bill Clinton, and who stepped down as chief communications officer at the National Football League earlier this year, has joined Edelman as vice chairman, public affairs. He will work out of the firm’s Washington, DC, office and will provide reputation counsel to CEOs and C-suite executives.

“Companies are now expected to be out front on issues like automation, immigration and sustainability, and advising CEOs on how to navigate this new terrain is essential,” said Richard Edelman (pictured), president and CEO of Edelman. “Joe’s experience in providing counsel to the former president, presidential candidates and some of the world’s leading CEOs will make him an invaluable advisor to clients.”

Lockhart was most recently executive vice president of communications and public affairs for the National Football League. He joined the NFL during a series of crises, ranging from Commissioner Roger Goodell’s handling of the “deflate-gate” scandal involving the New England Patriots to several incidents of domestic violence and growing clamor over the long-term effect of concussion injuries. His last year saw the NFL in a feud with President Trump over player protests about police shootings.

Previously, he worked with Facebook, leading the social networking giant’s corporate, policy and international communications team.

After leaving the Clinton White House in 2000, he co-founded and became managing director of the DC-based communications firm Glover Park, where he worked until 2011.

His career in politics began with his work on Jimmy Carter’s 1980 presidential re-election campaign. He would go on to serve as assistant press secretary for Walter Mondale’s 1984 presidential campaign and then deputy press secretary for Michael Dukakis’s presidential run. In 2004, Lockhart advised John Kerry in his 2004 presidential bid.

Said Lockhart: “Edelman has a great roster of clients and an exceptional team of global public affairs, corporate and reputation specialists that I’m looking forward to working with.”