Jared Kushner has hired a Hollywood public relations executive for a White House role in the new Office of American Innovation.
Josh Raffel, a public relations executive for Hollywood producer Jason Blum's Blumhouse Productions, was tapped to work for the office created to reform the federal government using the private sector, noted The Hollywood Reporter.
Raffel, 32, confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter in an exclusive interview that he will run communications for the new White House office. He had worked for Blumhouse since 2015.
Blum was nominated in 2015 for an Academy Award for best picture for producing the movie "Whiplash," and was named Producer of the Year Award at CinemaCon in 2016, according to its website. "Whiplash" won three Oscars, including a best supporting actor award for J.K. Simmons.
President Donald Trump created the Office of American Innovation last month, led by Kushner, his senior adviser and son-in-law.
"This office will bring together the best ideas from government, the private sector, and other thought leaders to ensure that America is ready to solve today's most intractable problems, and is positioned to meet tomorrow's challenges and opportunities," Trump said in a memorandum creating the office. "The office will focus on implementing policies and scaling proven private-sector models to spur job creation and innovation."
Raffel previously served the Kushner family business and conservative commentator Glenn Beck while working for New York-based public relations firm Hiltzik Strategies, The Hollywood Reporter noted.
Raffel also worked with Trump's strategic communications director and former campaign spokesperson Hope Hicks while at Hiltzik.
Hiltzik Strategies provides public relations, strategic counsel and communications, crisis management, corporate positioning, brand building, and content creation to industries including media, entertainment, sports, tech, and education, according to its LinkedIn page.
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