Well-regard journalist and public affairs professional Darryl Isherwood was named a senior adviser of economic development communications by the state Monday.
Isherwood, currently a vice president at Mercury Public Affairs in Westfield, will work out of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority’s office in Trenton but will be on call to all state economic agencies and will report to Mahan Gunaratna, the communications director for Gov. Phil Murphy.
He will begin his new role March 11.
Isherwood will be responsible for leading the development and execution of strategic communications efforts to advance the state’s economic growth through implementation of Murphy’s economic plan.
He also will serve as the lead adviser to the Governor’s Office, the EDA and other cabinet members related to economic plan communications and strategies. He also will oversee the tracking and monitoring of communications efforts.
While at Mercury, Isherwood worked with some of the state’s largest corporations advising executives on public relations, media relations and messaging.
Prior to joining Mercury, he served as a senior political reporter for NJ.com and The Star-Ledger, where he covered the administration of Gov. Chris Christie. Before joining NJ.com, he was the editor of PolitickerNJ.com.
Isherwood also has been a business reporter for Fox Business Network, where he covered real estate, the financial bailout and the intersection of money and politics. He began his career with the Trenton Times, covering local and state politics, and also spent time at the Morning Call in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and the Patriot Ledger in Quincy, Massachusetts.
