President Joe Biden nominated longtime Comcast executive David L. Cohen as his next ambassador to Canada.
Cohen’s selection was long expected. The senior adviser to Comcast CEO Brian Roberts backed Biden early in the presidential race, as he co-hosted the presidential candidate at his home for the campaign’s kickoff fundraiser in April, 2019.
Also tapped for an ambassadorship were Victoria Reggie Kennedy, the widow of Edward Kennedy, who was nominated for a posting in Austria, and attorney Jamie Harpootlian, for a posting in Slovenia.
Before his current post, Cohen was senior executive vice president at Comcast, serving as a key D.C. spokesperson for Comcast as it lobbied and sought government approval for various mergers, including the company’s acquisition of NBC Universal and an effort to purchase Time Warner Cable, which was abandoned amid regulatory opposition. Cohen’s portfolio also included areas such as corporate communications, legal affairs, government and regulatory affairs and public affairs, and he served as the company’s first chief diversity officer. He previously was chief of staff to Ed Rendell when he was mayor of Philadelphia.
Earlier this month, Biden nominated Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti to a posting in India.
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The ambassadorial nominations are awaiting Senate confirmation.