New Jersey Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors on Dec. 17 elected two new board members: George Helmy, executive vice president and chief external affairs and policy officer at RWJBarnabas Health; and Nick Maniatis, director of studio and production affairs for North America at Netflix.
“George and Nick are outstanding leaders who will provide valuable counsel and expertise as we work together to ensure the state reaches its full economic potential,” said Thomas Bracken, president and CEO of the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce. “They will be joining a Board with an already impressive group of New Jersey business leaders who contribute to the Chamber’s mission of fostering a dynamic and thriving business environment in New Jersey.”
Helmy, the son of Egyptian immigrants, became the first Coptic American senator in 2024 when Gov. Phil Murphy appointed him to succeed Robert Menendez who resigned. He served as Murphy’s chief of staff from 2019 to 2023. Helmy was also deputy and later state director for Sen. Cory Booker, and staff assistant and constituent advocate for Sen. Frank Lautenberg. In the private sector, he was a business operations manager at The UPS Store and was a managing partner at The Helmy Group, a property management firm.
At Netflix, Maniatis is involved in production policy for North America, developing guidelines and enforcing standards within a dynamic entertainment environment. Prior to this job, he served as director at The New Mexico Film Office, overseeing operations and managing resources to support film projects. Their work history includes promoting the state’s film industry and fostering collaborations within the local film community.
The chamber board provides guidance to staff on policy issues affecting New Jersey’s short- and long-term economic growth, with an emphasis on economic development; education & workforce development; environment/energy; health care; state budget/fiscal issues; and transportation.
