Chief lobbyist leaving SIFMA for restaurant association

Scott DeFife, senior managing director of government affairs in the Washington office of the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association, is leaving to take a job at the National Restaurant Association, SIFMA said today. The move represents something of a step up for Mr. DeFife. In his new position, he will oversee government affairs, public policy and advocacy communications for the restaurant group. In existence since the 1920s, it represents the nation's second-largest private-sector employer group with close to 13 million jobs, nearly 1 million businesses and annual sales of more than $500 billion. “His unique blend of federal and state government affairs experience in politics and trade associations will enhance our government affairs efforts in key areas,” Dawn Sweeney, the group's president and chief executive, said in a release. Mr. DeFife joined SIFMA as its chief lobbyist in 2007, after serving as senior policy adviser to House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer. Prior to that, he served as legislative director to Rep. Bart Gordon, D-Tenn. Off the Hill, Mr. DeFife has represented the American Public Power Association. “Scott has been an effective advocate and leader for SIFMA and its government affairs efforts and he has represented our members' interests extremely well during difficult times for the industry,” SIFMA chief executive Tim Ryan said in a release. Mr. DeFife starts at the National Restaurant Association Jan. 11.