The County of San Mateo has appointed Michelle Durand as Chief Communications Officer, County Manager John Maltbie announced Tuesday.
Durand officially joins the County Monday, Jan. 19, 2015.
Durand, a long-time Peninsula journalist, will work out of the County Manager’s Office to lead its communications team in engaging both the County’s workforce and its residents. She will be responsible for the County’s public affairs and media relations, developing communications strategies for a wide variety of projects and initiatives and identifying new ways to help San Mateo County deliver its goals of collaboration and transparency.
“We are very pleased and excited to have Michelle working for the County of San Mateo,” said John Maltbie. “Michelle brings outstanding insight and knowledge to the County of San Mateo and will play a major role in the development of strategic plans for the reporting of County initiatives and goals to keep the public informed of all the emerging issues within their County government.”
Prior to joining the County, Durand worked in the news business for nearly two decades. Most recently, she was an award-winning journalist for more than 13 years with the San Mateo Daily Journal where she reported on San Mateo County’s legal affairs and city government. She was also well known for her twice-weekly column on current events, both local and global, that she began in 2002 when named the Daily Journal’s inaugural news columnist.
Durand said she is excited by the chance to put her skills and talent to use on behalf of the County and those who live and work here.
“I’ve become very familiar with San Mateo County in my years reporting on the Peninsula and serving as its Chief Communications Officer is an exciting and unique opportunity to use that knowledge,” Durand said. “I’ve spent nearly 14 years telling San Mateo County’s stories and this position is another opportunity to continue doing so. “
Durand holds a Bachelor’s of Arts Degree in Politics from the University of California at Santa Cruz.