Mayor de Blasio Announces New First Deputy Press Secretary

March 11, 2016

NEW YORK--Mayor Bill de Blasio today announced Austin Finan as his First Deputy Press Secretary. Austin Finan will be succeeding Wiley Norvell, who is now Communications Advisor for Housing and Economic Development.

“We welcome Austin Finan and his lengthy experience in communications and campaigning,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “Whether it’s his past communications work for Democratic candidates across our city, or his strategic role in overseeing independent expenditure efforts for various labor unions, I’m confident that Austin will utilize his knowledge and skills in this position to continue to help New Yorkers stay informed on what the City is doing to improve their lives. I look forward to working with Austin.”

Austin Finan has a wide array of experience in communications and campaigning, having last served as Senior Vice President at Mercury - a public strategy firm - specializing in Democratic campaign strategy and public affairs. During his time at Mercury, Finan consulted on Democratic campaigns in New York at every level of government. He has also overseen independent expenditure campaigns for numerous labor unions, including the New York Hotel Trades Council, 32BJ SEIU and others. Finan received his B.A. in Government from Hamilton College in upstate New York.

In his current position, Finan will be responsible for communicating the administration’s agenda for a variety of City agencies, including Education, Housing Preservation and Development, and the Economic Development Corporation.