For immediate release
Contact: Marilyn Wimp, Manager of Media Relations, 215-574-4197
Philadelphia, PA — The Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia has named Deborah L. Hayes as senior vice president of Corporate Affairs effective January 4, 2016. Hayes will oversee the Public Affairs, Financial Institutions Relations, and Community Development Studies & Education departments. She will also direct the Bank's outreach efforts to legislative, business, banking, and community groups and will manage the Bank’s Economic Advisory Council. She will report to President Patrick T. Harker, president and chief executive officer.
“Deborah brings extensive strategic communications experience from diverse sectors, including corporate, media, government, research, and higher education. Her innovative approach to outreach will serve the Bank well,” said President Harker.
“I am excited to have the opportunity to work with President Harker and the Bank’s leadership team to help increase the engagement with the Bank’s various stakeholders. It is a privilege to join an institution whose important research and outreach have an impact on a regional and national level,” Hayes said.
Currently, Hayes serves as the vice president of communications and public affairs for the University of Delaware, where her focus has been to raise the visibility of the university. Before joining the university in 2013, she served as the managing director of communications for The Pew Charitable Trusts from 2002 to 2011. She was a founding partner and president of media strategies for Westhill Partners, a New York-based firm, where she focused on the areas of communications, crisis management, and public affairs from 1999 to 2002.
Hayes began in her career in broadcasting. With her expertise and passion for television news, she joined Oprah Winfrey/Harpo Productions in Chicago, where she led all communications efforts from 1994 to 1999. She was also responsible for managing Winfrey’s personal media relations. Before that, Hayes held a senior position at MTV Networks in New York City and was responsible for developing the company’s internal and external communications.
Hayes has provided communications counsel on Capitol Hill and served as press secretary for Congressman Richard Gephardt from 1985 to 1992. She also worked on presidential campaigns for Congressman Gephardt and Michael Dukakis.
She is a board member of the Monell Chemical Senses Center in Philadelphia and has chaired its Development and Communications Committee since 2009. She was selected to serve as a regional judge for the White House Fellows Program in 2011. Hayes has a B.A. in English literature from Tennessee State University.
The Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia helps formulate and implement monetary policy, supervises banks and bank and savings and loan holding companies, and provides financial services to depository institutions and the federal government. It is one of the 12 regional Reserve Banks that, together with the Board of Governors in Washington, D.C., make up the Federal Reserve System. The Philadelphia Federal Reserve Bank serves eastern Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey, and Delaware.