Summit-based MAD Global Strategy on Wednesday said it is expanding to Ohio with an office that will be headed by Jai Chabria. Chabria currently serves as J.D. Vance’s chief strategist in his bid for Ohio’s open U.S. Senate seat, according to an announcement from MAD Global’s founder and CEO, Mike DuHaime.
Chabria has worked in Ohio politics for over 25 years and has clients all across the U.S., ranging from Fortune 500 companies to trade associations, to nonprofits.
Additionally, Taylor Van Kirk will also join the new public affairs firm. Van Kirk currently serves as the J.D. Vance for Senate campaign’s communications director, and previously served as press secretary for the Ohio Speaker of the House and the Majority Caucus.
“Jai Chabria has been a friend and colleague for more than a decade. There’s no one better in the business. His leadership puts our firm on the map in Ohio,” DuHaime said. “Taylor Van Kirk is a communications professional with deep government affairs roots in Columbus, which will be an immediate benefit to our growing firm.”
Chabria and Van Kirk each previously worked at Mercury.
The latest expansion news follows several key announcements the firm has made, including that former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, former U.S. Sen. Jeff Chiesa and former New Jersey Attorney General Christopher Porrino joined last week as members of MAD Global’s advisory board. And last month, Laura Matos, a Democratic strategist, joined the firm as a partner.
