Haslam Announces Departure Of Communications Director

NASHVILLE – Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam today announced that Alexia Poe, the governor’s director of communications, will be leaving the administration to become a communications consultant in the private sector.

“Alexia has been an integral part of our senior team,” Haslam said.  “She is a strategic thinker and savvy communicator who brings a lot of insight into policy, politics and how government works.  I will miss her but wish her the best in starting her own business.”

As director of communications, Poe has served as the Haslam administration’s top communications official.  She has been a senior advisor and strategist to the governor, cabinet, senior staff and state departments.  She has also overseen crisis communications, external communications, internal communications and overall messaging for the administration.

“It has been great working for Bill Haslam and being part of his efforts to make Tennessee the best it can be,” Poe said.  “I look forward to cheering on this administration as it continues to move the needle on education, attracting and growing high-quality jobs, and making state government more efficient and effective in serving Tennessee taxpayers.”

Poe, 41, has served at the local, state and federal levels.  Prior to her appointment by Haslam, she was director of Nashville Mayor Karl Dean’s Office of Economic and Community Development.  There she served as the city’s top sales executive to attract and grow business investment in Davidson county and led the office’s public campaign for the Music City Center.

She has served in the nation’s capital both in the White House for First Lady Laura Bush and on Capitol Hill as communications director for U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander.  Before heading to Washington, Poe served five years in the administration of Tennessee Gov. Don Sundquist during which time she became the second female and youngest person in the state’s history to serve as press secretary to a Tennessee governor.

She has also worked in the private sector as director of public affairs for Gaylord Entertainment, now Ryman Hospitality Properties, where she managed the company’s government relations function, political action committee and philanthropic foundation.  Poe began her career as a television reporter and morning anchor in Northeast Tennessee.

She currently serves on the program and membership committees of the Downtown Nashville Rotary Club and is a Tennessee Promise mentor, helping high school seniors qualify for last dollar scholarships to attend a state community college or technical college at no cost.

A Knoxville native, Poe graduated magna cum laude from the University of Tennessee and is a recipient of the College of Communication and Information’s Donald G. Hileman Distinguished Alumni Award.

She and her husband, Charley, have two children, Ella Meade and Charles Thomas, and live in Nashville.

Haslam will name Poe’s successor at a later date.  Her last day will be Friday, August 21.