WASHINGTON, DC—Longtime APCO executive Neal Cohen is joining the Nuclear Energy Institute on January 1, as senior vice president for external affairs. Cohen will be responsible for developing and executing NEI's strategic government affairs, communications and advocacy programs to achieve critical policy objectives for the nuclear energy industry.

During his 30 years with APCO, Cohen has led global public affairs, government relations, communications, corporate responsibility, message development, and crisis and risk management efforts for clients. Most recently, Cohen was APCO's vice chairman and president of its global strategy group.

His clients have included ExxonMobil, Starbucks, Hilton Corporation, the American Tort Reform Association, Civil Justice Reform Group, Leading Builders of America, and United Airlines.

Cohen “joins the Nuclear Energy Institute in the midst of a vastly changing energy industry, and he has a deep grasp of the implications of these changes and how the industry must change the policy discussion to recognize the critical need for this important energy source," says Maria Korsnick, president- and chief executive officer-elect at NEI.