USTMA Hires New VP of Public Affairs

April 30, 2018

Kimberly Kleine has joined the U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA) as vice president of public affairs. She will be in charge of developing and overseeing all of USTMA’s public affairs strategies and programs.

Kleine comes to USTMA with nearly 30 years of policy, public affairs and executive leadership experience in both the public and private sectors. Most recently, she served as the managing director at Burson-Marsteller’s Healthcare Practice where she managed business development and led executive-level communications and advocacy for numerous clients.

Anne Forristall Luke, USTMA CEO and president, says, "Kim's experience, energy and vision will be a great asset to our team, our members and the tire manufacturing industry."

Kleine will oversee communications, media relations and federal and state public policy advocacy.

During her tenure at the global PR firm Ketchum, she consulted for a leading financial services company, a global management consulting firm, a diversified pharmaceutical and health products company, and a biopharmaceutical company launching biologic medicines. Kleine's work focused with clients seeking strategic communications for corporate positioning, thought leadership, policy and issues management, influencer campaigns, coalition building, and paid and social media.

Kim served in several senior leadership roles at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), including the office of the secretary, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). 

As a principal advisor to the HHS secretary, Kleine provided centralized leadership for HHS’s public affairs programs across the Department’s operating and staffing divisions and regional offices. In CMS, Kim led all aspects of external affairs and communications, including marketing and multi-million-dollar public service campaigns. In HRSA, her work spanned the implementation of healthcare reform and modernization of its workforce programs. 

Prior to her government service, Kleine was a producer for CNN and worked in the investigative unit of ABC’s Primetime Live.