Law firm hires McCrory as a public policy consultant (Charlotte Observer)
Moore & Van Allen cites the former mayor’s experience in public and private sectors.
Fourteen years as Charlotte’s mayor has proven a powerful resume-booster for Pat McCrory, who plans to put his experience to use in a new job: He’s joined law firm Moore & Van Allen as a public policy consultant.
McCrory started Monday as the Charlotte firm’s senior director of strategic initiatives. In that full-time position, he’ll focus on helping clients on energy, the environment, transportation, governmental affairs and other issues and public policies.
“I see it as a wonderful opportunity to work with a Carolinas firm that’s headquartered right here in Charlotte,” McCrory said.
McCrory, a Republican, stepped down from the mayor’s office last month.
His energy, knowledge and contacts in the public and private sectors will be valuable in the new position, said Ernie Reigel, the firm’s chairman.
“Pat’s got a lot of experience being a free thinker and a strategic thinker,” Reigel said. “We want him to work with many of our clients trying to help them think through things, solving problems or issues for them, or anticipating things they might need some help on.”
McCrory would not disclose his salary. But the former mayor said the new job – one of a range of opportunities that arose after leaving office – will allow him to remain involved in other business roles.
After leaving Duke Energy in 2008 to run for governor, he went to work last year with his brother Phil in McCrory & Company, a private business consulting firm. He also joined two corporate boards.
At Charlotte-based Tree.com, the parent of LendingTree and other consumer finance sites, he earns $50,000 a year and received stock valued at up to $50,000, according to an annual report.
At Kewaunee Scientific Corporation, a Statesville firm that builds lab furniture, he stands to make more than $36,000 a year in retainers and fees.
McCrory said he will continue to pursue other interests, including politics. He has guest-hosted programs on WBT radio and has a long upcoming schedule of political speeches around the state.
The firm understood all that when it hired McCrory, Reigel said.
“Part of his value is being known for the things he’s accomplished and what he may accomplish in the future,” Reigel said. “We don’t want to hold him back. We all understand that as he decides what he wants to do with his future, that’s just part of the deal. We’re not choosing sides on any particular thing. We’re really saying, ‘Here’s a talented guy, he’s been on a lot of sides of a lot of different issues and we think he’s got some value to bring to the table.'”
By Jim Morrill and Jen Aronoff
[email protected]; [email protected]
Posted: Wednesday, Jan. 06, 2010
