Washington, DC, October 8, 2015 -- Albright Stonebridge Group (ASG) has announced a number of new additions that expand the firm’s capabilities and expertise in important international markets and business sectors.  

“Madeleine Albright, Carlos Gutierrez, our partners, and I are excited that this group of highly respected people with expertise across the world and covering many industries have joined ASG,” said Samuel R. Berger, co-chair of Albright Stonebridge Group. “They greatly add to the breadth and depth of the firm, from Southeast Asia to Latin America to India, with deep understanding of industries from technology to health care. These additions continue our commitment to hiring world-class people who are on the cutting edge of their fields.”

New members of the ASG team include: 

Aneesh Chopra adds to ASG’s growing technology expertise as a senior advisor, and will use his extensive knowledge of cyber and innovation issues to help clients pursue growth and capture opportunities in markets around the world. Appointed by President Obama as the first White House Chief Technology Officer (2009 – 2012), Mr. Chopra designed the National Wireless Initiative and executed an “open innovation” strategy across the government built on private sector collaboration. As co-founder of an incubator and analytics company and author of Innovative State: How New Technologies Can Transform Government, he is a leader in innovative solutions that address challenges in health, energy and education markets, among others.    

Julie Mason has joined ASG as vice president, where she leads communications and marketing efforts and works with the firm’s clients on communications strategy and outreach. Ms. Mason joined ASG from the White House, where most recently she served in the Office of the Vice President. She brings an extensive communications background that includes positions in the private, public, and political sectors. Ms. Mason has served as senior director of communications at AOL, White House deputy press secretary to Hillary Clinton, and head of public affairs and communications at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo.

Meredith Miller has joined ASG as vice president in the firm’s Southeast Asia practice, where she helps clients pursue business opportunities and navigate political, business, and regulatory processes. She has over fifteen years of experience working on Southeast Asian trade and energy issues, as well as a deep understanding of political dynamics in the region. Ms. Miller most recently served as senior vice president and director of the D.C. office at the National Bureau of Asia Research, where she led research programs on economic, energy, and trade issues. Earlier in her career, Ms. Miller served at the Department of State as the deputy director of Economic Policy in the Bureau of East Asia and Pacific Affairs and as a Southeast Asia analyst in the Bureau of Intelligence and Research.

Enrique Ruelas joins ASG as senior advisor, and he will focus on ASG client-work in Mexico and throughout Latin America, with a particular focus in the life sciences and health care sectors. Dr. Ruelas has served in high-level roles in the government of Mexico, including as Vice Minister for Innovation and Quality in the Ministry of Health, where he oversaw a comprehensive effort to modernize the country’s health care system. He also served as Mexico’s Secretary of the General Health Council for Medicine and as President of the National Academy of Medicines. A widely published expert on health management, he joins ASG from his position as professor and senior director of public policy and health systems at the Instituto Tecnológico de Monterrey.

Anand Shah joins ASG as vice president, and he will play a key role in the firm’s India practice, helping clients manage both short-term challenges and pursue longer-term growth opportunities. Mr. Shah previously led global strategy for new ventures at BMW Group on urban impact and autonomous mobility. He founded and served as CEO of Saravajal, a technology and market-based provider of clean water to rural villages and urban settlements in India. In addition, Mr. Shah helped establish Ahmedabad University, and has worked extensively in India on policy in higher education, solar energy, and urban infrastructure. Mr. Shah was the founding CEO of the Piramal Foundation, and a co-founder of Teach for India and Indicorps.    

Ira Shapiro joins ASG’s expanding East Asia practice as senior advisor. A veteran United States Trade Representative (USTR) negotiator and trade law expert whose principal focus is U.S.-Japan trade and economic relations, Ambassador Shapiro will use his experience to help ASG clients formulate their trade and investment strategies in Japan, across Asia, and globally. He served as chief U.S. trade negotiator with Japan and Canada and as USTR’s General Counsel during the Clinton administration. In these roles, he was centrally involved in completing the negotiations of the North America Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the multilateral Uruguay Round, and successfully resolved contentious bilateral disputes between the U.S. and Japan on automobiles and semi-conductors.  

Sergio Ulloa joins ASG as senior advisor, where he will work closely with the firm’s health sector clients, with a focus on Latin America. With over 40 years of experience as a medical specialist, Dr. Ulloa joins ASG from Merck Sharp & Dohme (MSD) Mexico where he was head of Public Affairs, Communications, and Social Responsibility. Previously, he led a number of business units at Schering-Plough, including Clinical Research, Business Development, and Marketing, and also served as deputy general manager. Dr. Ulloa founded the Mexican Council of Rheumatology and has served as the President of the Mexican College of Rheumatology.   

Albright Stonebridge Group (ASG) is a leading global strategic advisory firm that helps our clients succeed by assessing and managing risks, identifying and seizing opportunities, and solving commercial, political, and regulatory challenges in international markets.  Chaired by former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright, White House National Security Advisor Samuel R. Berger, and Secretary of Commerce and Kellogg Company CEO Carlos M. Gutierrez, ASG’s worldwide team of commercial diplomats has served clients in more than 100 countries and across all major industries.

For more information, please visit www.albrightstonebridge.com

Address media inquiries to Julie Mason at jmason@albrightstonebridge.com