Rob Nichols

Robert Nichols is the President and COO of the Financial Services Forum, an influential trade group representing the CEOs of twenty of the largest financial services firms in the United States. He served in the administration of President George W. Bush as assistant secretary of the Treasury for public affairs under Treasury secretary John W. Snow.

George W. Bush administration

Nichols was sworn in as Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Public Affairs for the U.S. on August 6, 2003. He was nominated for the position by President George W. Bush on April 10, 2003, was confirmed by the United States Senate on August 1, and sworn in by Treasury Secretary John Snow on August 6.

The Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs oversees all public affairs efforts for an $11 billion federal agency with 117,000 employees and plays a leading role in educating the American people about tax and currency policy, debt management, Social Security and Medicare financing, and a host of international issues that impact the U.S. economy. As the chief spokesman for the Treasury Department and Secretary Snow, the Assistant Secretary designs and implements policies, communications strategies, and programs that will increase the public's knowledge and understanding of Treasury's activities and services among the news media, business groups, consumer groups, and other government agencies.

In addition to managing communications, press, media, speechwriting and advance personnel and programs, the Assistant Secretary also oversees the Office of Public Liaison, which liaises with business, advocacy and financial communities including Wall Street; elicits information, analysis and opinions from public and private organizations representing business and consumer interests; and communicates Treasury and Administration views to these entities.

Nichols served as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs since the beginning of the George W Bush Administration. The Deputy Assistant Secretary is responsible for media relations for the Department of the Treasury. This involveds planning strategy on how to present issues to the media; representing senior Treasury officials to the media; providing tactical communications counsel; acting as a Treasury spokesman; and representing the Administration's views on issues to the public through the press. On a day-to-day basis, the Deputy Assistant Secretary arranges interviews, press conferences, background briefings, photo opportunities, and responds to questions from the media.

Early career

Before joining the Department of the Treasury, Nichols served as Communications Director for the Electronic Industries Alliance. Previously, he served as Communications Director for Senator Slade Gorton and as Press Secretary for Congresswoman Jennifer Dunn. Earlier in his career, Nichols was the Political Director for the Washington State Republican Party. During the George H.W. Bush administration, he worked at the White House in the West Wing as an aide in the Office of the Chief of Staff, and at the Department of Transportation in the Office of Secretary Andrew Card. Nichols is a native of Seattle, Washington, and a graduate of George Washington University.