Tony Fratto

With two decades of broad experience in Washington, DC, Tony Fratto has earned a reputation as a trusted and authoritative voice on economic, legal, political and public policy issues. Tony is an on-air contributor with the CNBC Business News Network addressing current economic policy issues, and his columns can be found on CNBC.com. He is also a member of the Center for Global Development’s Partners Council. After serving as Assistant Secretary in the U.S. Treasury Department, Tony moved to the White House in September 2006 as Deputy Assistant to the President and Principal Deputy Press Secretary. He worked directly with the President and senior Administration officials, the national press corps, opinion leaders, and foreign news media, regularly briefed reporters from the White House podium and participated in on-camera cable and network interviews. Tony was the White House communicator responsible for international and domestic economic policy issues — including international trade; global financial markets; banking; and international development and global health issues. He was also the White House’s lead spokesman on legal issues; Supreme Court cases; U.S. intelligence issues; terrorist financing; and financial crimes. Before moving to the White House, Tony served as the U.S. Treasury Department’s chief spokesman on issues related to domestic finance, debt management, banking, international economics and international development policy. He was instrumental in leading the Administration’s communications strategy in dealing with emerging market financial crises, currency policy, macroeconomic policy, and tax policy. Tony assisted three U.S. Treasury secretaries on activities ranging from preparation for G7 and G20 finance ministers meetings, IMF and World Bank meetings, congressional testimony, media interviews, and speeches. Combining his work at the Treasury and the White House, Tony directed and participated in communications efforts in more than 60 countries around the world. Before joining the Bush Administration, Tony served as a communications specialist for the Bush-Cheney campaign. Prior to that he served as Vice President of Government Affairs for the Pittsburgh Regional Alliance, where he led successful public affairs and issue campaigns resulting in important infrastructure investments and legislative policy changes in Pennsylvania. Earlier in his career, he served in senior legislative and communications positions in the U.S. Congress and Senate, and as a political director to Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge. Born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Tony received his bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Pittsburgh, and attended the university’s Graduate School of Public and International Affairs. He lives in Washington, DC with his wife, Judy, and their young children, Antonio and Juliette.