Adfero Group Welcomes Chris Battle as Vice President

February 12th, 2007 -

Coverage in PR Week, The Hill, and more.

National Journal: Image-Makers

National Journal

Chris Battle, most recently the campaign manager for Republican Asa Hutchinson’s failed gubernatorial bid in Arkansas, is back in D.C. with a new job. He has just signed on as a vice president with the Adfero Group, a public-affairs firm formerly known as Rightclick Strategies. Battle had worked for Hutchinson off and on for the past decade.

Battle, who grew up in Georgia and Florida, was a student at the University of Central Florida before transferring to the University of Arkansas, where he earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees. ‘My career intentions were to be a professor of American history. I just kind of took a break. I was a little sick of academia,’ says Battle, who then started writing for The Northwest Arkansas Times and later the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. He went into government as a communications director and then deputy chief of staff in Hutchinson’s congressional office.

Battle briefly returned to reporting in Arkansas. But when Hutchinson became director of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Battle returned to work for him as director of congressional and pubic affairs. He later helped jump-start the public-affairs division of the newly established Homeland Security Department and went on to serve as chief of staff at DHS’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Battle, 38, doesn’t regret leaving journalism and academia behind.

‘The government side was just so exciting. There was just so much going on,’ he says. One highlight was when then-Rep. Hutchinson was a House manager for the Clinton impeachment trial. ‘It was a media frenzy. I’ll never forget walking into the Rayburn Building when the hearings first began, and the flashbulbs going off. I mean, it’s the kind of thing you see in Hollywood.’

Battle to Adfero

Odwyer PR
30 January 2007

Chris Battle, a former chief of staff for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement unit of the Dept. of Homeland Security, has taken a VP post at Adfero Group. He promoted U.S. policies to combat smuggling, illegal

Battle is the former communications director for Rep. Asa Hutchinson (R-Ark.), and worked with him when he headed the Drug Enforcement Agency. Most recently, Battle was campaign manager for Hutchinson’s unsuccessful run for Governor of the Natural State.

Battle is a former journalist (Northwest Arkansas Times and Arkansas Democrat-Gazette).

Adfero has conducted campaigns for clients such as U.S. Chamber of Commerce, National Federation of Independent Business and AARP.

Battle Joins Adfero Group as Vice President

Bulldog Reporter’s Daily Dog
30 January 2007

Adfero Group (www.adferogroup.com) announced that veteran Washington public affairs strategist Chris Battle has joined the firm as vice president. Battle has more than a decade of experience in media, strategic communications, issue advocacy, crisis communications and political campaign management, and has held numerous high-profile positions in Washington, including Chief of Staff for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement at the Department of Homeland Security.
In his new role with Adfero Group, Battle will act as a senior advisor on client projects, helping associations, interest groups and others get their message heard in Washington and among other targeted audiences nationwide. Battle will also support new business and staff development, as well as strategic planning.

‘Chris brings a unique depth of experience and know-how to Adfero Group that will help our firm expand and improve services to our clients,’ said managing director Jeff Mascott. ‘He has held leadership roles across the public affairs spectrum—from political campaigns to grassroots and crisis communications. The contacts he has developed through the years in Washington will be a great benefit to Adfero Group as we pursue ambitious growth plans in 2007.’

‘I am excited to join Adfero Group because the firm takes a forward-thinking and integrated approach to public affairs,’ Battle said. ‘Whether you’re talking about traditional earned media efforts, ad placement, grassroots development or any other communications campaign, you can’t operate in today’s fluid media environment without incorporating new technologies and new media strategies. Nobody does this better than Adfero.’

Chris Battle, a former chief of staff for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, has joined lobbying firm Adfero Group

The Hill

Chris Battle, a former chief of staff for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, has joined lobbying firm Adfero Group. Most recently, Battle served as campaign manager for former Rep. Asa Hutchinson (R-Ark.) in his 2006 bid for Arkansas governor.

Battle joins Adfero as VP

PR Week
29 January 2007
By: Ted McKenna

WASHINGTON: Adfero Group has named Chris Battle as VP, serving as senior advisor on client projects. Battle most recently was campaign manager for former Rep. Asa Hutchinson (R-AK)’s failed run for governor of Arkansas, and has also served as chief of staff for the US Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement division.

Where are they now?

Arkansas Times

Chris Battle, the former D-G editorial writer who led communications for the Asa Hutchinson campaign,
has followed Asa’s northerly footsteps back to the beltway. He’s become a vice president for a ‘public affairs’
firm, Adfero Group. You’ll note that the firm changed its name from Rightclick Strategies in December to ‘indicated a
broadened scope of mission.’