Veteran Disney (NYSE: DIS) lobbyist Preston Padden isn’t retiring until 2011 but he’s already handing off to a new government relations chief. Richard Bates takes over as SVP-U.S. Government Relations effective immediately, while Padden, who will assist with the transition, switches to the strategic planning group until he leaves next January. But Bates, who’s hardly a newcomer after 19 years, isn’t playing the exact same role.
Padden, previously the president of ABC Television Network, took on government relations in 1998 and had global lobbying responsibility, leaving as EVP-worldwide government relations. Bates will be limited to U.S. federal and state government entities and trade associations. The plans for lobbying outside the U.S. weren’t immediately clear but it was suggested to me they’ll likely be aligned with the various international regions. Bates previously was executive director for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and held various Congressional staff roles.

Comments have been disabled for this post