NBC Hires Ex-Bush Aide Perez

Gearing up for its planned acquisition of Vivendi Universal’s entertainment holdings, NBC on Thursday hired a former deputy in the Bush administration to become the company’s new chief communications officer.

Anna Perez, 52, most recently served as deputy assistant to President Bush and as communications advisor to National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice. She went to work for the White House two weeks before the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and left the administration in December. Perez also was press secretary to former First Lady Barbara Bush from 1989 to 1993.

Perez, who begins at NBC on May 1, also carries Hollywood credentials as former head of media relations for Creative Artists Agency. She followed its once powerful leader, Michael Ovitz, to Walt Disney Co., where she worked in government relations.

“I’m excited to be part of NBC, and at this exciting time in the company’s history,” Perez said.

Executives at NBC, a unit of General Electric Co., are hoping to receive federal approval this month for the network’s $14-billion acquisition of Universal’s movie studio, theme parks and cable assets. New York-based NBC expects Perez’s experience to help it better navigate Hollywood.