Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg announced today that Press Secretary Edward Skyler will also serve as the Administration's Communications Director.  Skyler has been the Mayor's Press Secretary since January 1, 2002 and will now take on the responsibilities of William T. Cunningham, who served as Communications Director before leaving the Administration to join Bloomberg for Mayor 2005.

"I am pleased to appoint Ed Skyler as my Communications Director," Mayor Bloomberg said.  "He has been an effective advocate, a thoughtful adviser and a tireless member of my Senior Staff.  I know that this dedicated public servant will continue to make every effort to make sure the City is well represented during my Administration."

"I am grateful to Mayor Bloomberg for the opportunities he has given me and appreciate this vote of confidence," Skyler said. "I continue to take great pride in working for him and for New York City."

As the Mayor's Press Secretary, Skyler has served as Mayor Bloomberg's chief spokesman and overseen the Mayor's Press, Speechwriting, Research and Photo Offices.  Skyler also has spearheaded several projects to increase the City's communications capabilities with its citizens in emergencies. Most notably, the City entered into an agreement with the New York State Broadcasters Association and the area's broadcast television and radio stations to pre-empt programming to disseminate vital information to the public in an emergency.  As Communications Director, Skyler will continue to run the Mayor's daily communications operations and ensure an open dialogue between the public information offices at City agencies and the news media.

Skyler worked at the New York City Parks Department from 1995 to 1999, where he served as Deputy Chief of Staff and as the Public Information Director.  He then was appointed a Deputy Press Secretary to Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani.  In 2000, he left the Mayor's Office to work in the Corporate Communications group of Bloomberg LP and, in 2001, he joined Bloomberg for Mayor as the campaign's Press Secretary.  Skyler served in that position through the transition during which time he was appointed Press Secretary to the Mayor.

Born and raised in New York City, Skyler is a graduate of both the University of Pennsylvania and the Fordham University School of Law. He is a member of the New York State Bar.