Brendan J. McCormick

Vice President, Communications
McCormick Brendan

Brendan McCormick helps Venable's clients achieve their business, policy, and reputational objectives through more effective communications. Brendan has been developing and implementing communications strategies to manage high-profile, high-stakes issues for three decades. He has extensive experience in crisis management, media relations, public policy, issues management, litigation communications, internal communications, and corporate reputation management. He has been a trusted advisor to senior executives, often preparing them for interviews with national media, meetings with investors, and employee town halls.

Prior to joining Venable, Brendan was an independent public relations consultant to Fortune 500 companies, leading trade associations, and think tanks in the advertising and marketing, automotive, banking and consumer finance, business advocacy, internet, and media industries. Before starting his own business, he was a senior executive at Altria Group Inc. and its companies, serving in leadership roles in communications, investor relations, and strategic planning. He has a strong track record of developing successful communications strategies to advance corporate legislative objectives at every level of government. His litigation communications experience includes every level of the federal and state judicial systems, including multiple U.S. Supreme Court cases, multi-billion-dollar class action lawsuits, and litigation brought by the U.S. Department of Justice and state attorneys general.

He was previously a member of the Board of Directors of the Virginia Chamber of Commerce and the Richmond Public Schools Education Foundation, where he served as board chair. He is an alumnus of Lead Virginia, a statewide program for leaders, and sits on the board’s Communications Committee.

Credentials
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Education

  • M.B.A. University of Virginia, Darden School of Business 2008
  • B.A. cum laude Hamilton College 1993

Community
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Volunteerism

  • Member, Communications Committee, Lead Virginia
  • Former member, Board of Directors, Virginia Chamber of Commerce
  • Former chair, Board of Directors, Richmond Public Schools Education Foundation