WASHINGTON — After roughly two decades with MSL, Sheila McLean has left the firm to head Markstein’s new Washington office.

McLean will serve as president of Markstein’s DC operation, which was created to handle the Birmingham, AL-based firm’s growing crisis, public affairs and advocacy business.

“Our expansion into Washington, DC is a direct result of our high performing team’s impactful work, which has fueled the steady growth of this agency,” said CEO Eileen Jaffe Markstein. “With Sheila at the helm in DC, we are well-positioned to continue elevating our agency’s success. Her award-winning experience and deep commitment to exceptional client service is a perfect fit for Markstein and our clients.” 

McLean has held a number of roles during her MSL tenure, most recently serving as senior VP and director of North American social purpose & sustainability. She was the firm’s senior VP, director of North America corporate & brand citizenship and managing director of MSLGroup’s Detroit office before that.

Earlier in her career, McLean led safety and environmental affairs at Chrysler Corp., where she developed and launched an industry leading child safety program.