Necole Merritt serves as Vice President of Public Affairs for Cox Communications Inc. She is responsible for national public affairs strategies and programs to enhance the company’s reputation. She oversees Cox’s media relations, product communications, community relations and employee communications activities. She also works closely with local Cox operations on issues of national interest and serves as communications counsel to Cox management.

Prior to joining Cox, Merritt served as Executive Director of Corporate Communications for AT&T. Previously, from 1999 – 2006, she held multiple senior level corporate communications positions for the former BellSouth Corporation in media relations, reputation management, internal, executive, public policy and marketing communications. Merritt began her career over 19 years ago as a member of the media launch team for Saturn Corporation.

Merritt earned a bachelor’s degree in Journalism from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism and a master’s degree in Communications from California State University Northridge.

An active member of the Atlanta community, Merritt is an adjunct communications instructor at Georgia Perimeter College; serves as a big sister with Cool Girls Inc.; a member of the marketing committee for Imagine It!, The Children’s Museum of Atlanta; a member of the nominating committee for the Northwest Georgia Girl Scouts Council; and an officer in Northwestern University’s Atlanta Alumni Club.

March 2008