GMA Names Denzel McGuire EVP of Gov’t Relations

The Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) has hired Denzel E. McGuire as its EVP of government relations, effective Jan. 5.

Noted Pamela G. Bailey, president and CEO of Washington, D.C.-based GMA: "Denzel McGuire has 20 years of experience in Congress, working on a full range of policy issues. She is widely recognized as a masterful negotiator, outstanding legislative strategist and consensus builder. Denzel's experience in both the Senate and House, and her leadership on passage of a wide array of legislation, will be invaluable in the legislative and policy efforts of the food, beverage and consumer products industry."

In her new role, McGuire will lead and oversee GMA's policy and advocacy work at the federal, state and local level. She will be a member of the GMA Senior Leadership Team and report to Bailey.

For the past four years, McGuire was policy adviser to incoming Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.). Before joining McConnell's staff, she was deputy chief of staff and policy director for Sen. John Kyl (R-Ariz.) when he was Senate Republican Whip, and earlier was Sen. Judd Gregg's (R-N.H.) minority staff director of the Senate Budget Committee.

Additionally, McGuire worked for five years as a key education policy leader on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, and prior to that was a staff member on the House Education and the Workforce Committee. She began her Capitol Hill career as a legislative correspondent and press assistant for Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.).