<b>BATON ROUGE, LA — January 3, 2018 </b>— Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome is pleased to announce two new additions to her administration. As of today, the Mayor-President announces Veneeth Iyengar as Assistant Chief Administrative Officer and Rachel Haney as Chief Communications Officer.
“I am excited to announce that Veneeth and Rachel are joining the administration as we begin the new year,” Mayor-President Broome said. “I am confident that their diverse skill sets will complement our strong team and deliver bold, new ideas to advance the mission of my administration.”
Mr. Iyengar's portfolio includes issues pertaining to economic development, transportation, and healthcare. He received a Bachelors of Science in Economics from Purdue University in 2001 and served in the United State Peace Corps shortly after 9/11 where he was stationed in the Philippines handling economic development issues. He subsequently earned the Franklin Williams Award for outstanding achievement in the Peace Corps.
The son of Indian immigrants who moved to Baton Rouge in 1979, he has deep family ties to Baton Rouge. He completed his K-12 education at area schools including McKinley Middle Magnet and Baton Rouge Magnet High School. After obtaining a Masters in Finance from Johns Hopkins University, Mr. Iyengar worked for the Honorable Robert Mosbacher, Jr., former CEO of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation, in Washington, D.C. before joining Sage Growth Partners where he helped build and lead their Healthcare Venture Capital/Private Equity Practice.
“The greatest resource Baton Rouge has to chart a path into the 21st century is its people. This opportunity is a chance to honor my commitment to public service by investing in the growth and potential of our human capital through diverse and inclusive policies,” Veneeth Iyengar said. “The chance to serve my hometown has been a lifelong dream and I am looking forward to rolling up my sleeves and delivering results.”
Ms. Haney, the Mayor-President’s new Chief Communications Officer, will manage a comprehensive and proactive communications strategy for the City of Baton Rouge. A native of Baton Rouge, Ms. Haney is a graduate of St. Joseph’s Academy and Louisiana State University’s Manship School where she received a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication with an emphasis in Public Relations. Prior to joining the Broome Administration, she worked for Robin & Associates, a government relations firm specializing in healthcare, infrastructure, and public utilities.
Ms. Haney previously directed public relations and social media strategies for The National WWII Museum in New Orleans where she secured international media coverage for the 70th anniversary of the D-Day invasion. She also handled media relations efforts for Greater New Orleans, Inc., The George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts, and the Let’s Be Totally Clear Campaign for Tobacco Free Living in Louisiana.
“I am honored to join the Broome administration to help develop a communications strategy focused on clearly conveying our mission to all residents of Baton Rouge and East Baton Rouge Parish,” said Rachel Haney. “I look forward to applying my experience in the private sector to an administration dedicated to building a brighter future for my hometown.”