Gov. Kay Ivey has named Gina Maiola as her new communications director, the office announced Friday. Maiola previously served as the governor’s press secretary.
“Gina has been a major asset to the administration since my very first day as governor,” Ivey said in a written announcement Friday. “Gina is well respected, has strong relationships with media outlets across the state, and I am confident she will continue to do extremely good work in her new role.”
Maiola has been Ivey’s main spokesperson since mid-2019. Prior to that, she was a deputy press secretary and a primary speech writer. Maiola graduated from The University of Alabama in 2016 with a bachelor’s degree in communication and information sciences.
Maiola fills the shoes of Leah Garner. Inside Alabama Politics reported earlier this month that Garner was leaving the administration to join Foundation for Excellence in Education as its senior director of communications. Jeb Bush’s Excellence in Education is one of the nation’s premier education reform advocacy organizations.