Stella Porter, a former deputy press secretary to Gov. Phil Murphy, has joined Mercury Public Affairs as a vice president in their New Jersey office.
Before joining Murphy’s staff, Porter was a three-time Emmy-nominated TV reporter and anchor at an NBC affiliate in Albany and a CBS affiliate in Wisconsin.
Mercury partner Michael Soliman called Porter “a skilled communications professional whose experience in both government and the newsroom will be a strong asset to our clients.”
“With experience spanning state government and the newsroom, Stella understands how decisions get made and how stories are told,” said Mo Butler, a Mercury partner. “She will be a great addition to our team and bring valuable insights for our clients.”
Mercury is a global company, and its New Jersey office, run by Soliman, is among the most politically influential in the state.
Porter worked for WNYT NBC NewsChannel 13 in Albany and WSAW CBS/FOX NewsChannel 7 in Wausau, Wisconsin. In Murphy’s office, she worked on energy, transportation, state finance, environmental issues, and veterans and military affairs issues.
“I’m eager to help clients navigate complex issues and break through the noise in today’s dynamic media landscape alongside such a respected team,” Porter stated.
A Mercury staffer, Megan Coyne, recently left the firm to join Gov. Mikie Sherrill’s staff. She had previously worked for Murphy and the Biden White House.
