Gov. Gregoire appoints Pearse Edwards as communications and external relations director

For Immediate Release: December 19, 2007

OLYMPIA - Gov. Chris Gregoire today announced the appointment of Pearse Edwards as her new communications and external relations director.

Edwards, 38, most recently served as a director of communications in corporate affairs at Microsoft. He served as a vice president of public affairs at GMMB in Washington, D.C., from July 2002 to May 2005.

�Pearse brings strong leadership skills needed to manage my communications and outreach office,� said Gov. Gregoire. �He has over 15 years of communications experience. His familiarity with state government and policy issues will allow us to hit the ground running.�

Edwards served in Gov. Gary Locke�s communications office. Previously, Edwards worked for public affairs firms in Seattle and Washington, D.C., where he managed a host of local and national issues. He also worked in Russia for the International Finance Corporation and served in the presidential transition for President Bill Clinton.

�It�s an honor to be appointed to this position,� Edwards said. �While it is hard to leave my current role raising my two children full time, I relish the opportunity to serve the governor and the people of Washington state, to work with her staff and state agencies, and to interact with the press.�

Edwards is a graduate of Appalachian State University in Boone, N.C., and resides with his wife and two children in the Seattle area. He replaces Holly Armstrong, who resigned in November.

His appointment is effective Jan. 2, 2008.

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