Marsh & McLennan Names Gustfason to New Chief Public Affairs Post

Marsh & McLennan Companies announced that Erick R. Gustafson has been appointed as the company’s first chief public affairs officer. Gustafson has led the company’s Government Relations Department since 2008.

In this expanded role, Gustafson will lead global corporate strategy for external communications and government relations. He will report to Peter J. Beshar, executive vice president and general counsel, and work in the company’s New York headquarters and Washington, D.C. offices.

“Over the past decade, Erick has demonstrated deft skills in creating a first-rate Government Relations department,” Mr. Beshar said. “He is strategic in nature and collaborative in style. In addition to knowing our businesses well, Erick has developed strong relationships with our senior leaders, our communications experts across the enterprise and an array of external stakeholders.”

Gustafson’s career started on Capitol Hill as a senior aide specializing in banking and insurance policy. He joined Marsh in 2008 from the Mortgage Bankers Association, a financial trade group, where he was for five years after working five years at the nonprofit think tank Citizens for a Sound Economy.