NFLPA's Smith Makes Atallah First Major Hire In Exec Dir Role

By Liz Mullen, Staff Writer, SportsBusiness Journal

New NFLPA Exec Dir DEMAURICE SMITH has made his first major hire at the union, naming public relations exec GEORGE ATALLAH to the newly-created position of Assistant Exec Dir of External Affairs. The appointment was announced on the NFLPA’s Web site. Atallah worked as Smith’s right-hand man on strategy and public affairs throughout the NFLPA Exec Dir selection process, as well as through Smith’s transition as union chief. Atallah was most recently a director at DC-based Qorvis Communications and has worked as a Senior Client Analyst at Goldman Sachs & Co. Atallah and Smith could not immediately be reached for comment.