Herbie Ziskend

Herbie Ziskend

Fmr. White House Principal Deputy Communications Director

Herbie Ziskend is a media and communications strategist who has advised top leaders in government and business. Ziskend served as the White House Principal Deputy Communications Director, overseeing a 30-person team responsible for messaging, press strategy and communications for President Joe Biden. Ziskend prepared the President and senior officials before press interviews and major events, and he served as a top White House spokesperson. He also led communications on Artificial Intelligence policy, which included overseeing the rollout of President Biden’s landmark Executive Order on AI in 2023.

Previously, Ziskend was Senior Advisor for Communications to Vice President Kamala Harris - preparing the Vice President for media engagements, speeches and events. Ziskend was also a member of President Biden’s 2020 campaign. Earlier in his career, Ziskend worked for Vice President Biden during the Obama-Biden Administration, and on President Obama’s 2008 campaign.

In the private sector, Ziskend has worked with prominent business leaders. He was AOL co-founder Steve Case’s Chief of Staff and Director of Public Policy at Revolution LLC, Case’s venture capital firm. Ziskend worked with portfolio companies on marketing and communications, and developed and led the firm’s “Rise of the Rest” initiative to back high-growth startups in overlooked communities. Ziskend was Chief of Staff to Arianna Huffington at the Huffington Post Media Group, where he oversaw a multimillion dollar budget and a staff of several hundred people across the globe. At SKDK, a nationally recognized public affairs firm, Ziskend counseled CEOs, foundation leaders, and candidates on media and communications strategy. Ziskend holds degrees from Cornell University and the Harvard Kennedy School.