Washington, DC (July 11, 2011) – Albright Stonebridge Group (ASG), a global strategy firm, announced today the addition of three senior members to their team – Carol Browner, Richard Verma and Ian Bowles. As part of the firm’s growing energy and environment practice, Browner and Bowles will assist clients in a variety of sectors, including energy, technology and infrastructure. Verma, a partner at Steptoe & Johnson LLP, will serve as outside Counselor to ASG and support its global trade, regulatory and policy capabilities, especially with regard to South Asia.

“With the addition of Carol, Rich and Ian, we have expanded the firm’s international reach and will bring to bear their unique talents and extensive expertise across a range of sectors,” said Madeleine K. Albright, Chair of Albright Stonebridge Group. “They will further enhance our ability to help our clients succeed in tackling multifaceted problems in the changing global marketplace.”

ASG’s new global team members include:

• Carol Browner, former director of the White House Office of Energy and Climate Change Policy, will be based in Washington, DC. At the White House, Browner oversaw the coordination of environmental, energy, climate and transport policy across the federal government. During her tenure, the Administration secured the largest investment ever in clean energy and established the national car policy that included both new automobile fuel efficiency standards and the first-ever greenhouse gas reductions. Previously, Browner was the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. Browner also serves as a Distinguished Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress and on the board of the League of Conservation Voters. In her role as Senior Counselor at ASG, Browner will provide strategic counsel to clients in the areas of environmental protection, energy conservation, resource scarcity and climate change.
• Richard Verma, former Assistant Secretary of State for Legislative Affairs, and current Steptoe & Johnson LLP partner, will be affiliated with ASG as outside Counselor. As Secretary Clinton’s principal advisor on Congressional affairs, Verma played a lead role in an extensive range of international and legislative initiatives, including securing ratification of the New START Treaty. Previously, Verma served as Senior National Security Advisor to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, where he crafted legislative strategies with respect to defense, homeland security and foreign policy issues. He is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, former country director for the National Democratic Institute, and has focused extensively on matters pertaining to South Asia. As Counselor, Verma will draw upon his two decades of experience in the foreign policy and national security arenas, to support ASG’s global capabilities and reach.
• Ian Bowles, former Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, will be based in Boston, MA. Bowles brings to the firm more than 20 years of experience in energy, environmental and sustainability issues at the international, federal and state level. He previously served as the Senior Director of Global Environmental Affairs at the National Security Council and as Associate Director of the White House Council on Environmental Quality, where he played a key role in the Kyoto Protocol process. Along with his new role at Albright Stonebridge Group, Bowles is also founder and Managing Director of Rhumb Line Energy LLC, an advisory and project development firm focused on clean energy. As a Senior Director at ASG, Bowles will focus on advising clients on issues and opportunities in clean energy technology, energy markets, environmental, natural resource and sustainability issues.