Lobbying World: Holy See ambassador rejoins Akin

Former Sen. and Rep. Joe Donnelly (D-Ind.) is rejoining Akin as a senior consultant. Donnelly, who served on the Senate Banking, Agriculture and Armed Services committees during his time on the Hill, was a partner at the firm before taking a post as the ambassador to the Holy See in 2022.

George Sifakis and Michael Lamoureux are joining Capitol Counsel as partners, and John Martin has been promoted to lead the firm's health care practice, beefing up their Trump bona fides.

Sifakis’s resume includes as stint as assistant to the president and director of the office of public liaison during the first Trump administration. Lamoureux served as president of the Arkansas Senate in 2013 before becoming chief of staff to Governor Asa Hutchinson. 

Martin was Sen. Tom Cotton’s (R-Ark.) legislative director and principal associate commissioner for legislation at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration under Commissioner Scott Gottlieb during the first Trump administration.

Michelle Richardson is joining Elevate Government Affairs as an executive vice president. Of her 25 years of experience on Capitol Hill, she spent nearly two decades as chief of staff to Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.).

Alliance for Automotive Innovation has hired Megan Ekstrom as vice president of federal affairs. She joins from the Zillow Group, where she led federal and state public affairs, and is a Procter & Gamble, Motorcycle Riders Foundation and the International Fragrance Association alum.

Doug Lathrop has joined the American Council of Life Insurers (ACLI) as vice president of tax advocacy. He previously was vice president in New York Life’s office of government affairs.

Signal Group has hired Megan Daly as a senior vice president.

Lot Sixteen has promoted Helen Kalla and Jeremy Dillon to vice president, Ben Tegtmeyer to director and Joely Chinnici and Grant Napierski to senior associate.