Former Dick Cheney Spokesperson Begins Job at BP

Anne Womack-Kolton, the 2004 campaign press secretary for Vice President Dick Cheney, began a new job today as BP's head of U.S. media relations, TPM reports.

Reuters first reported BP's hiring of Womack-Kolton, who also worked as head of public affairs at the Department of Energy under former President George W. Bush. The company is looking to improve its battered public image in the wake of the disastrous and continuing oil leak in the Gulf.

Here's Womack-Kolton's LinkedIn page detailing her employment history. As TPM notes, in 2004 she was often identified as Cheney's spokeswoman.

Cheney was for five years the chief executive of Halliburton, one of the companies tied to the rig that exploded in April, killing 11 and causing the massive oil spill. He said he severed his ties with Halliburton upon becoming vice president, though critics noted that he continued to receive compensation from the company.