Former House legislative director David Malech is getting behind the government affairs wheel at a South Korean auto company several months after his boss left office.
Malech is the new general manager of government affairs at Kia Motors Corp. He has extensive experience with Republicans in Congress, departing in January as Rep. John Campbell's (R-Calif.) legislative director when Campbell retired. He led legislative efforts for Campbell for eight years after returning from a lobbying stint with the Gallatin Group.
Malech first came to the Hill as a staff assistant in the office of Sen. Phil Gramm (R-Texas) in 1991 following his graduation from the University of Texas at Austin. He rose through several legislative positions with Gramm and moved in 1997 to the office of Rep. Kevin Brady (R-Texas) where he served until 2006.
Between 2006 and 2007, Malech registered to lobby with the Gallatin Group for a variety of organizations, including Microsoft Corp. several seafood groups and Officemax Inc. He left his lobbying job for a legislative director position with Campbell in 2007.
Kia registers to lobby on issues affecting the automotive industry. With Campbell, Malech's issue portfolio included transportation and public works as well as foreign trade and international finance. He has not yet filed a lobbying registration with Kia after his August start.
