Max Reiss, the former television reporter who helped frame messaging for Gov. Ned Lamont for the past three years, is departing the administration next month to become a senior vice president at M&T Bank.
He is stepping down as communications director for Lamont in the final months of the Democratic governor’s first term to manage communications at M&T as it raises its profile after taking over People’s United Bank.
The transition of People’s branches to the M&T brand is scheduled for the weekend of Sept. 2.
Reiss, a former political reporter for NBC Connecticut, joined the administration in mid-2019, when Lamont’s approval rating plummeted as he pushed a highway tolls proposal that never came to a vote in the General Assembly.
The governor recovered in the polls once he abandoned the tolls plan and the administration became consumed in early 2020 by managing the COVID-19 pandemic, including daily televised briefings by Lamont.
Lamont, a candidate for reelection, has been leading in public polling.
“Particularly when it came to the state’s response and communications regarding the global outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, Max has been a passionate guiding force and a committed public servant,” Lamont said. “He is incredibly focused at everything he does, and he has become a close friend and collaborator.”