Yale’s former chief spokeswoman has a new job: running global public affairs for General Electric.

Helaine Klasky, who left the University this summer after her husband accepted a post in the Obama administration, has been appointed to lead GE’s corporate and global public affairs teams and oversee the company’s executive communications program.

“It is a source of great pride to Yale that Helaine Klasky, who played a major role in forging the University’s international outreach campaign, was chosen to handle such a significant responsibility for GE,” University President Richard Levin said in a statement. “Although we miss her here at Yale, we wish her well in her new endeavor.”

Klasky’s eight-year tenure at Yale saw an increased focus on marketing the University’s internationalization efforts, along with its sustainability programs, construction projects and, most recently, its efforts to expand its presence in the sciences. She also had to handle a range of public relations crises over the years, from the controversial admission of former Taliban diplomat Rahmatullah Hashemi to Aliza Shvarts’ ’08 abortion art scandal.

Before coming to Yale, Klasky served as deputy assistant secretary for public affairs at the U.S. Department of Treasury. She will take up her new job Oct. 12. Her successor at Yale as associate vice president, director of public affairs and special assistant to the president has not yet been named.

YALE DAILY NEWS