The 12-year run of Gigi Sohn at communications watchdog Public Knowledge is all but over as she moves to the staff of new FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler. Two current members of the organization will be stepping into leadership positions.
Sohn was one of three co-founders of the organization, and serves as its President/CEO. She officially exits 11/8/13 and has already removed herself from any of the organization’s core work.
She is being replaced from within. Moving up from VP is Michael Weinberg and moving up from COO is Brooke Hunter. Both are assuming the title Acting Co-President.
Sohn’s role at the FCC will be as Wheeler’s Special Counsel for External Affairs.
Public Knowledge Board Chair Kathleen Wallman stated, “The Public Knowledge Board thanks Gigi for her extremely hard work and her vision over the past 12 years. She built Public Knowledge into the country’s most effective public interest organization working in communications and technology policy. We wish her well on her new endeavor as Chairman Wheeler’s point person for communications and external affairs.”
Sohn said, “I leave Public Knowledge with a mixture of sadness and great pride. In late 2001, I started the organization with a tiny budget and free office space in Dupont Circle. Now Public Knowledge has 17 full time employees and more importantly, has a reputation as an effective, thoughtful and pragmatic communications and technology policy advocacy organization. In addition, Public Knowledge is known for training and giving opportunities to young public interest advocates, many of whom stay with the organization for years. The PK staff is like family to me, and I will miss our daily interactions.
“After three years of mentoring, two of PK’s long-time staffers will now take the reins of the organization as Acting Co-Presidents. Michael Weinberg and Brooke Hunter have for all practical purposes been running Public Knowledge for the past two years, and doing a great job of it. I expect that they will demand the same high level of excellence and thoughtfulness as I did. I wish them, and the organization, great success in the future.”
