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Former White House Press Secretary Jay Carney reportedly being considered as Apple’s next PR chief (Updated 2x)

A new report from Re/code today suggests that Apple is currently considering hiring Jay Carney as its new head of PR. Carney worked as White House Press Secretary from February 2011 until June of this year. Prior to joining the White House staff, he worked as Miami Bureau Chief for Time Magazine and Director of Communications for Vice President Joe Biden.

Carney would replace Katie Cotton, who stepped down from the position earlier this year. It has previously been reported that Apple is looking for an external candidate to lead its communications team in the hopes of finding someone “friendlier,” although several internal candidates were also being considered.

From Re/code:

Kalanick is still looking, having talked to other political players such as former Obama White House press secretary Jay Carney (whose name is also being bandied about for the other big job opening in tech PR, at Apple).

Carney is reportedly being considered for such roles at several companies, including Uber.

Update: The Loop has responded to Re/code’s tidbit that Jay Carney could be Apple’s next PR chief. While Re/code’s report only mentioned that Carney’s name was being considered, The Loop negates that saying Apple CEO Tim Cook has not met Jay Carney.

Update 2: Jay Carney told Politico the following over email:

“I’m talking to a lot of people about a variety of possibilities. But I’m not commenting on specifics.”

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Comments

  1. Taste_of_Apple - 10 years ago

    Reblogged this on Taste of Apple and commented:
    He would be an interesting choice based on his previous position. I don’t know too much about him, but first and foremost, Apple needs to hire someone who gets Apple Culture and can deal with constant barrages of media attention (even the negative and frequently misguided type) and speculation and focus it in a positive way that shows the world Apple doing what it does best: making awesome products and empowering satisfied users. If they use that as their guiding star, whoever they end up hiring will do great.

  2. Brian Batch - 10 years ago

    You’ve GOT to be kidding me. I would NEVER trust anything out of Apple’s PR department if this were to happen.

  3. Truly the stupidest thing in print, its not even April 1st.

  4. macboyproretina - 10 years ago

    WOW, that would be the worst move by any company in history. Jay Carney has ZERO credibility in the eyes of the entire world. There is no way this will happen.

  5. Will Kelly (@willkelly) - 10 years ago

    Jay Carney as Apple’s PR chief!?! Just an awful choice for the role. It would be hard to trust Apple with him as the spokesman.

  6. rogifan - 10 years ago

    Wow if Cook does this then he’s clearly jumped the shark.

  7. Jared Duquette - 10 years ago

    This is insane for a variety of reasons.

  8. Vimana Boy (@vimanaboy) - 10 years ago

    Jay Carney was a spokesman for war crimes.

  9. Robert Walter - 10 years ago

    Please don’t do it Tim!

    A doofus D.C. retread known for selling spin and obfuscation from an deeply incompetent administration is not the kind of experience or “talent” that Apple requires.

    If hired, will bring a negative halo to the company as the John Browett of PR.

    Apple needs to project power close to ideas, not ideas close to power.

  10. John Parento - 10 years ago

    Considering the bullets this guys had to dodge during the past few years being with the White House during these few rough years. I can’t imagine why this guy wouldn’t be a great fit for apples tight lipped pr team. I hope this article turns out true. I think people associate him with Obama to much and not his merit. He’s a fine fit for this position.

    • bpbatch - 10 years ago

      You mean, because he’s a puppet. Gotcha.

      • John Parento - 10 years ago

        Press house secretary’s are essentially puppets for the White House. So yea…..? They filter information that the administration deems ok to talk about. Good job

      • bpbatch - 10 years ago

        Thanks for clarifying, genius-in-chief.

      • John Parento - 10 years ago

        I hear negative feedback about him but nothing factual on this forum. I’m just making a point that he would be a good fit because he’s a good personality to bring out pressing information to the public. If he can relay information that effects other countries; I don’t see why he would be a bad fit for relaying info on apple.

      • John Parento - 10 years ago

        It’s easy for anyone to say that’s a stupid idea. I’m just saying back yourself up with reason.

    • rogifan - 10 years ago

      Cook might as well hire Baghdad Bob. He has about as much credibility as Jay Carney does.

    • Silence Dogood - 10 years ago

      Hope not. He, Carney, looks too much like “I’m a PC” John Hodgman’s cousin! Maybe Microsoft’s PR but doesn’t have the Apple “it” factor… Other words, he’s not cool and hip. Carney is too PCish.

    • I agree John. Just fielding the lies Fox news would drop at press conferences and answer with a straight face makes him qualified

      • Jack Gnasty - 10 years ago

        LOL! Jay Carney’s qualified for ANYTHING because he’s a liberal like MEEEE!

        Pathetic.

    • Jack Gnasty - 10 years ago

      Some people still believe that character is important. We can judge Jay Carney on his character, and to that end, he’s a liar. He gladly worked for the marxist in charge. He stood in front of reporters, liasons to us Americans, and flat out lied.

      If you believe lying is just a part of the job or that’s simply what PR people do, I question your character as well.

      Lying and misdirection would be a vast departure from Apple’s current program of ‘silence’.

  11. Damion Michaels - 10 years ago

    Seems like a great way to dump half of your consumer base. I have been Apple-centric for 25 years. This would have me moving away from the platform in a NY minute.

  12. John Evos - 10 years ago

    email Tim Cook at- tcook@apple.com and tell him HELL NO on Carney…………!!!

    Carney is a total liar and scumbag complicit in the numerous frauds conducted against the American people.

  13. Gregory Wright - 10 years ago

    How many of you ever heard the name Katie Cotton mentioned? I bet none of you. The position isn’t like the White House Press Office where the PR person is in front of the camera all day and every day. His job primarily is to deal with media types such as this blog. Those of you with an Anti Carney attitude are transferring your dislike for Obama or the government to Carney. Carney’s job was to answer for the President not to set policy for the administration.

    Being the WH PR person makes Carney well suited for Apple PR position. If he handled the WH press brigade he most certainly can handled less serious matters at Apple.

    • Brian Batch - 10 years ago

      Listen, I myself am a journalism/public relations major with experience. I’ll be the first to say that it doesn’t take much to respond to a press query, considering most of them are written ahead of time (product launch) or are cookie-cut replies that are copied and pasted depending on the information being sought. Apple’s PR rep is not being peppered at live press conferences from eager reporters–this is a TOTALLY different skill set than what Carney has gone through. So why would (or should) Apple even pick a guy like this, knowing that there will strong political dispatches over such a hire? You mean, there’s NO ONE ELSE they could pick, then publicize, than Jay Carney?

      And, yes, Cotton was Apple’s previous PR chief, and quite a cold fish from my recollection of her. If Apple is going to continue to be on a roll with their newly-found openness and responding to customer demand, Snarky Carney is clearly a mistake for that reason alone.

      • John Parento - 10 years ago

        I agree with Gregory. Nice point.

      • Jared Duquette - 10 years ago

        Not to mention the political baggage he carries with him. He worked for an very un popular president whom has divided this country terribly. Why would Apple want that baggage hanging over its head?

    • John Parento - 10 years ago

      People often discriminate the guy for the wrong reasons. Maybe we should look into work ethic instead of their affiliations to their prior job. I would expect the same attitude for this post if it were someone from Samsung coming over to apple. People are often one sided and not able to read the fine details that determine suitable employee candidates.

    • spiralynth - 10 years ago

      Teabaggers and their delusional blind hatred. Take a deep breath, clowns; you’ll live longer.

      Carney would be an excellent hire. He’s an accomplished and eloquent communicator who’s done the job at amongst the highest of levels. And what have you done with your life? I actually hope they hire him simply to miff off these petulant nimrods.

      • bpbatch - 10 years ago

        There’s always one idiot on these forums that has to go down Immaturity Road.

      • John Parento - 10 years ago

        Safety in numbers

      • bpbatch - 10 years ago

        You mean, it’s safe to use a homosexual term to describe someone? I didn’t see any other such posts on this forum. Considering I support LGBT rights, I am offended by your use of the term and, thus, your bigotry.

      • spiralynth - 10 years ago

        @Brian Batch — Calling yourself an idiot is both brave and, well … honest. Acceptance is the first step. Sounds like I touched a nerve a little too close to the truth, eh? I wasn’t even talking you, clown.

        Hmm … unemployed “journalism” major from some third rate college rails against highly employable Ivy League Honors graduate while spouting off his exceptional tea bagging skills. You just can’t write this stuff.

        Get a fricken job, “idiot”.

      • spiralynth - 10 years ago

        @batchy – You know good and well the tea-bagging reference has NOTHING to do with homesexuality and everything to do with the Tea Party.

        Don’t try to make yourself appear dumber than you already are.

      • bpbatch - 10 years ago

        I’m unemployed? News to me… Wait… Is this that jealous colleague from the office upstairs? Weren’t you the guy who got fired for blogging online all day at work? Thought so. Fucking idiot. Now STFU before your mom finds out you’re using her computer with your pants around your ankles again.

      • spiralynth - 10 years ago

        Yep … you told the world you’re unemployed.

        http://www.linkedin.com/in/brianbatch
        So, you’re lying on one of these places: here or there.

        And I’m a junior in college on summer break, genius. I’m VOLUNTARILY unemployed.

      • spiralynth - 10 years ago

        @bitchy – So, wait. You have a colleague who’s a “fucking idiot” who lives with his mom and uses her computer to blog all day from … wait for it … the same place you “work”? And he’s got the “upstairs office”. Does that mean he’s the bright one? WTF does that say about you, pal?

        Anyway, this mumbo-jumbo all sounds like code for someone who lives in the basement of his friend’s house, and whose mom is keeping you clowns fed and sheltered while you “work” (wink wink). You should update your linkedin page accordingly, Mr. Brian Batch.

      • Most Social Justice Warriors still live at home. Always the same. Hears a word s/he doesn’t like, interprets it wrong, makes a speech about how tolerant s/he is and then gets furious at anyone pointing out the error. The only unusual thing is that this one’s a dude.

      • Michael Napier (@NapMan) - 10 years ago

        Just curious, if communication skills, education and work experience are the only important factors would you support someone like Condoleeza Rice for the position? She is extremely well educated, very well spoken and has handled some pretty darned high-level jobs as well.

    • Jack Gnasty - 10 years ago

      Gregory, he stood up at the podium and told bald faced lies. Facts are facts regardless of political affiliation. That’s poor character. And he chose to do so.

      Lying to the WH press is not “handling” them. You should expect better.

  14. OMG. Could never happen. Apple would be the laughing stock of the known universe. This grandiose champion liar probably started this rumor himself, for attention. The Iraqi Foreign Information Minister had nothing on Jay Carney. No man has been prouder to lie to every man, woman and child of his own countrymen.

  15. Stephen Buckley - 10 years ago

    Out of character for a company that prides itself on quality and innovation. Maybe Apple plans on a new OSX named Weasel in honor of Jay.

  16. Dick Geary - 10 years ago

    Yeah, when I think “friendlier” Jay Smarmey is the first person I think of.

  17. stickyicky97 - 10 years ago

    Go no! This man is a lying, smug-face, weasel. This would be a PR disaster for Apple. Don’t do it!

  18. Stephen Buckley - 10 years ago

    Maybe Apple has no choice. Maybe got a call from Louise Lerner or Eric Holder offering protection from EPA or NLRB review. Hey, you pay to play when you got in bed with these political whores. Hope I’m wrong.

  19. Frederick Fidura - 10 years ago

    As Steve would say, “This is insanely stupid.” It will take a lifetime to rebuild this fools credibility after his association with Obama.

  20. Asok Smith - 10 years ago

    Uh, and why exactly does Apple need such a high-power professional liar like Carney? Makes no sense anyway since Carney is so discredited amongst at least half the U.S. population, you know, the half that would assume everything he said as Apple spokesman just had to be a lie and would pretty much assume the exact opposite of everything he said was the actual truth.

    Carney WOULD however be the perfect Billy Mays replacement, hawking miracle orange cleaner and stuff on late night TV on obscure channels like the Vice Grip Channel or some such. Either that or the perfect new host for Pawnography.

  21. Ian Grant - 10 years ago

    He’d be a grand choice, indeed.

    One thing’s for sure – he’s not a pushover!

  22. melvin frazier (@bmfstl) - 10 years ago

    This has to be a trial balloon from Apple, not a serious consideration. If I wanted every public announcement from my company to be DISBELIEVED, Jay would be my guy!