WASHINGTON, DC—Burson-Marsteller has named former US National Security Council executive secretary Nate Tibbits as chair of its US public affairs practice.

The firm also appointed Johanna Schneider, most recently executive director of external relations at Business Roundtable, as managing director and market leader for its Washington, DC, office and former American Gas Association senior vice president of public affairs Laura Sheehan as managing director and the leader of its Washington public affairs practice.

The firm's current US public affairs practice chair Mike Lake will continue in his role as Southwest market leader.

Tibbits and Schneider will report to US CEO Dave DenHerder. Tibbits will work closely with the firm's global public affairs practice chair Jeremy Galbraith to develop programs that span multiple regions. Sheehan will report to Tibbits.

As executive secretary of the National Security Council, Tibbits supported the President and his national security team in formulating national security policy. Prior to his time at the NSC, Tibbits was special assistant to the President for Presidential personnel, overseeing the identification and selection process for more than 1,000 presidential appointments across several departments and agencies.

At the Business Roundtable, an organization for the chief executive officers of global companies, Schneider directed all external relations, including communications, media relations advertising, digital communications, branding and external advocacy. Earlier, she was senior adviser for media relations at the National Institutes of Health and deputy assistant secretary for public affairs at the Department of Labor.

At the American Gas Association, Sheehan was charged with developing and overseeing the strategic direction for government relations, communications and advocacy efforts. Earlier, she served as vice president and managing director at FD Dittus Communications where she ran the energy and environment practice.