NEW ORLEANS – Mayor Mitch Landrieu named Ryan Berni as Deputy Mayor of External Affairs for the City of New Orleans. In this capacity, Berni will oversee Communications, Intergovernmental Relations and Policy initiatives. These units work to communicate the message of City initiatives, as well as to ensure that City Hall is working in collaboration with all of its partners at the municipal, state and federal level.
“Ryan has been an integral member of our senior team since 2010,” said Mayor Landrieu. “Given his work helping to lead the communications and intergovernmental affairs teams in the past five years, I am confident that he will be able to lead our team to even more successes.”
Berni began his work with the City in May 2010 as Press Secretary and later Communications Director, where he managed media, public relations and special projects and events for the City of New Orleans. In 2013 and early 2014, he served as campaign manager for Mayor Landrieu’s successful re-election campaign. He returned to City Hall as the Senior Advisor to the Mayor, leading citywide policy and public affairs initiatives including the 10th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. In late 2014, Berni took a leave of absence to manage former United States Senator Mary Landrieu’s re-election campaign in its final months.
Prior to working at City Hall, Berni served as Chief of Staff for political strategist James Carville, based in Washington, D.C. There, he directed Carville’s media, research, writing, and business development operations, as well as served as a consultant to international political clients across the globe. He also served in various capacities with the Louisiana Democratic Party. Berni holds a degree in political science from Louisiana State University.
