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Following several key appointments already this year, Mercury Public Affairs announced a leadership changeup June 8. 

The Saddle Brook-headquartered bipartisan public strategy firm has named Michael Soliman president and elevated John Gallagher to CEO. Meanwhile, current CEO and founder Kieran Mahoney will take on the role of executive chairman. 

Gallagher joined Mercury in 2012 as managing director. He became a partner in 2017 and was named president in 2022, according to his firm bio. 

Gallagher brings nearly three decades of experience in business, government and media. His client work centers on “high-stakes communications,” spanning the technology, law, finance, real estate, healthcare, education and construction sectors. 

Before joining Mercury, Gallagher held leadership positions at Tishman Construction Co. and Lower Manhattan Development Corp. and also served as press secretary for New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, among other positions. 

Meet the new president

Soliman joined Mercury as managing director in 2013. Moving up from partner, Soliman oversees the firm’s New Jersey and Pennsylvania operations. 

He will also work closely with Gallagher and the rest of the leadership team on the firm’s strategic direction and growth initiatives nationally. 

According to Mercury, Soliman advises elected officials and public leaders at both the state and federal levels, including U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-5th District. 

With a career spanning two decades, Soliman has also served as key political advisors to U.S. Rep. Rob Menendez, D-8th District; U.S. Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J.; and several others. 

In a LinkedIn post, Soliman said he was “honored” to take on the new role and to help the leadership team “drive Mercury’s continued growth and to keep delivering the world-class public affairs counsel our clients rely on.” 

The top-level promotions follow a string of several key hires and promotions this year, including: 

• Elevating Juan Melli to partner in its New Jersey office 
• Welcoming back former New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority President and CEO Nick Mammano as managing director in its New Jersey office 
• Hiring Stella Porter – most recently served as deputy press secretary and spokesperson for Gov. Phil Murphy – as a vice president in its New Jersey office