Howard Opinsky

Howard Opinsky is a business and political communications strategist and a special advisor to digital reputation management company Five Blocks.[1] He was the national press secretary for U.S. Senator John McCain’s (R-AZ) 2000 presidential campaign.[2] He was also a campaign strategist and spokesman for other Republican candidates at the national and state levels.[3]

Howard Opinsky
NationalityUSA
OccupationSpecial Advisor to Five Blocks
Known forDigital communication strategist

Opinsky has been quoted in the media as a spokesman for candidates and causes and as a political strategist commenting on a variety of breaking news events. He has also been a guest lecturer at Harvard, Penn State, and various trade groups to discuss communication, the media, and politics.[4]

He was the executive vice president at Powell Tate, the Washington, D.C. office of Weber Shandwick. He was the executive vice president and leader of the US Corporate Advisory Practice of Hill+Knowlton Strategies and the managing director of Global Corporate Communications at JPMorgan Chase & Co.[5] A veteran communication strategist and counselor to CEOs and senior executives, he has helped build, position, and protect some of the world’s best known brands.[6]

Education

Opinsky earned a B.A in political communication in 1991 from The George Washington University.[7][8]

Career

Five Blocks

In February 2018 Opinsky joined digital reputation management company Five Blocks as president.[1]

Hill+Knowlton Strategies

Opinsky was appointed executive vice president and general manager of H+K Strategies, Washington, DC office on March 1, 2012.[9][10]

JP Morgan Chase & Co.

On January 11, 2011 Opinsky was named managing director of communication at JP Morgan Chase & Co.[11]

Powell Tate

Opinsky spent ten years at Powell Tate, Weber Shandwick's public affairs brand, and was the head of the corporate and public affairs groups at Powell Tate. In addition to his direct client work, he was responsible for developing new business strategies for crisis, corporate, and public affairs clients across all business sectors.[11]

Opinsky was the primary communication advisor and spokesman for former AIG Chairman and CEO Maurice “Hank” Greenberg. Mr. Greenberg fought a highly publicized battle to maintain his reputation amid a civil lawsuit from New York Attorney General Elliot Spitzer and investigations by the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.[12][13] Opinsky provided strategic communication counsel to the Business Roundtable’s Energy Task Force and the U.S. Climate Action Partnership (USCAP), two CEO-level organizations promoting comprehensive energy reform plans.[14]

In the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on September 11, Opinsky was tapped by then-Mayor Rudy Giuliani to advise on communications about the relief effort.

Political career

As national press secretary for Senator McCain’s 2000 presidential bid, Opinsky designed, managed and led the media strategy that came to be known as the “Straight Talk Express.”[15] The landmark strategy rested on open media access to the candidate, operatives, and behind the scenes of the campaign. Opinsky was responsible for the campaign’s media communication and was the primary spokesperson from the campaign’s inception to its final day.[16]

Opinsky has also served as a media strategist and campaign operative for a variety of candidates and political leaders including U.S. Senator Richard Shelby (R-AL)[6] and former U.S. Senator Phil Gramm (R-TX).[17]

In 2020, he endorsed McCain's vice presidential opponent Joe Biden for president.[18]

Personal life

Opinsky lives in Washington, D.C. with his wife, Colleen Connors, and their two daughters, and golden retriever.[19][20]

References
  1. "Hill+Knowlton veteran Howard Opinsky joins Five Blocks". Retrieved 2018-02-27.
  2. "War is hell — for GOP politicians". Retrieved 2017-10-15.
  3. Povich, Elaine S. (2009). John McCain: A Biography. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 118. ISBN 9780313362521. howard opinsky press secretary.
  4. "CNN - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos". CNN. Retrieved 2017-10-15.
  5. "Hill+Knowlton Strategies - Hill+Knowlton Strategies". Hill+Knowlton Strategies. Retrieved 2017-10-15.
  6. "Opinsky To Lead H+K Strategies' DC Operations". www.holmesreport.com. Retrieved 2017-10-15.
  7. "Colonials Come Back to Campus | GW Today | The George Washington University". gwtoday.gwu.edu. Retrieved 2017-10-15.
  8. "Howard Opinsky Executive vice president, US eastern region & US corporate practice leader" (PDF). Retrieved 15 October 2017.
  9. "Hill+Knowlton Strategies - Hill+Knowlton Strategies". Hill+Knowlton Strategies. Retrieved 2017-10-15.
  10. "Howard Opinsky: Executive Profile & Biography - Bloomberg". www.bloomberg.com. Retrieved 2017-10-15.
  11. "JPMorgan Chase Boosts PR Team - January 4, 2011". www.odwyerpr.com. Retrieved 2017-10-15.
  12. "Greenberg's Back On AIG's Case". www.forbes.com. Retrieved 2017-10-15.
  13. Glater, Jonathan D. (2005-12-23). "Executive's Article Revives Feud With Prosecutor". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2017-10-15.
  14. Shelp, Ronald; Ehrbar, Al (2009-07-28). Fallen Giant: The Amazing Story of Hank Greenberg and the History of AIG. John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 9780470535660.
  15. "CNN - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos". CNN. Retrieved 2017-10-15.
  16. Povich, Elaine S. (2009). John McCain: A Biography. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 118. ISBN 9780313362521. straight talk express mccain opinsky.
  17. Alvarez, Lizette (2000-02-26). "THE 2000 CAMPAIGN: THE COLLEAGUE; Campaign Cools Friendship Between McCain and Phil Gramm". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2017-10-15.
  18. "McCain Alums endorse Joe Biden for President". Retrieved 2020-08-27.
  19. "Center for Inspired Teaching 2009 Annual Report" (PDF). 2009. Retrieved 15 October 2017.
  20. Experience, Jewish Food. "Light and Fluffy Spinach and Cheese Strata - Jewish Food Experience". Jewish Food Experience. Retrieved 2017-10-15.
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