Joel Johnson
Partner, Head of Washington, DC, FGS Global

Joel Johnson is a Partner at FGS Global, with over two decades of legislative and
communications experience. Joel heads a team of professionals who specialize in
crafting and implementing legislative strategy, working in tandem with the firm’s Public
Affairs Division, advertising and crisis management teams.

Prior to joining the firm, Joel founded The Harbour Group in 2001 and built an
impressive portfolio of private and public clients worldwide. A veteran of both ends of
Pennsylvania Avenue, Joel’s distinguished career extends to the corridors of Capitol Hill
and the White House. Prior to founding The Harbour Group, Joel completed his
appointment as President Clinton’s Senior Advisor for Policy and Communications. In
this capacity, he was charged with coordinating the message and communications
strategies designed to promote the Administration’s legislative and policy goals. As a
member of the President’s team of core advisors, his responsibilities required an
intensive working knowledge of the machinery of government and media at the highest
levels.

Joel has extensive experience in public policy and strategic communications on Capitol
Hill. When Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle was elected Democratic Leader in
1994, Joel was appointed Staff Director for the Senate Democratic Leadership, serving
as Daschle’s chief legislative and communications advisor for five years. Previously, he
served the House Democratic Leadership as Executive Director of the Democratic
Study Group, held senior staff positions on the Senate Labor and Human Resources
and Judiciary Committees, and was Chief of Staff to Senator Howard M. Metzenbaum of
Ohio.