(NEW HAVEN, CT) – Governor-elect Ned Lamont today announced two senior personnel appointments in his administration: Superior Court Judge Robert W. Clark will serve as General Counsel and Colleen Flanagan Johnson will serve as Senior Advisor.
Clark will oversee legal operations for the office of the Governor, as well as provide expert and strategic advice to the Office of the Governor on all legal matters. Flanagan Johnson will oversee the Governor’s communications operation, and provide strategic counsel to the Governor and other senior officials on communications, policy, and political matters.
“Robert and Colleen are experienced public servants who are deeply committed to helping Connecticut become more inclusive and prosperous for all,” said Lamont. “They are eager to get to work, and I welcome them wholeheartedly into my Administration.”
Robert Clark has been a Superior Court Judge since May 2018. He currently presides in the Bridgeport Juvenile Court. Prior to his appointment to the bench, Judge Clark served for nearly fourteen years in the Office of the Connecticut Attorney General, most recently as Special Counsel to Attorney General George Jepsen. In that role, Judge Clark represented the Office of the Attorney General before the General Assembly and the state's other Constitutional officers. He frequently advised the Governor's office and the General Assembly on complex legal issues facing the state. Prior to serving as Special Counsel, Judge Clark was an Assistant Attorney General in the Office's Special Litigation Department. Judge Clark began his legal career in the private sector, practicing law at the firms of Day, Berry & Howard in Hartford, Connecticut and Kramer Levin in New York City. He received a B.A. cum laude from the University of Connecticut in 1993 and a J.D. with high honors from the University of Connecticut School of Law in 1997, where he also served as Executive Editor of the Connecticut Law Review. He lives in Durham with his family.
Colleen Flanagan Johnson serves as the Executive Communications Leader for Cigna’s Chief Marketing Officer. In this role, Flanagan Johnson is responsible for all internal and external communications, as well as thought leadership and business communications for the global marketing organization. Prior to her time at Cigna, Flanagan Johnson was the Vice President of External Communications at Magellan Health. Before working in health care, she held several communications leadership roles in the government sector. Flanagan Johnson served as Governor Dannel P. Malloy's first Communications Director, and held the same position for both U.S. Senator Chris Dodd (CT) and U.S Senator Kay Hagan (NC). Flanagan Johnson began her career working as a press secretary at the Connecticut General Assembly. Flanagan Johnson graduated from the University of Connecticut with a bachelor's degree in journalism and public relations. She and her husband Mike live with their daughter in West Hartford.
“I am deeply honored and humbled to have been chosen by Governor-elect Lamont to serve as his General Counsel,” said Judge Clark. “I look forward to serving the new administration at this critical juncture for the State of Connecticut.”
“I’m looking forward to working with the Governor-elect on shaping an administration that is dynamic, entrepreneurial, and inclusive,” said Flanagan Johnson. “He has a clear plan for taking Connecticut’s economy to the next level, and I am ready to help convey that vision to the people of this state.”