Apple hires lobbyist specializing in drones and aviation

From time to time, Apple hires some professionals in areas in which it does not operate, raising speculation and leaving everyone slightly confused. Today is one of those days – although we may have some chances of where Apple is going with all of this.

I explain: according to Bloomberg, Apple recently hired Lisa Ellman, specialist in legislation related to drones and aviation, to act as its registered lobbyist in Washington, DC (United States). Ellman is part of the law firm Hogan Lovells, where he leads cases related to drones and aviation, and will not need to leave his post to act on behalf of Apple in the corridors of the White House and the US Congress.

Lisa Ellman

The lawyer’s curriculum goes further: Ellman was one of the creators of the Commercial Drone Alliance, the foundation responsible for “promoting the commercial use of drones and creating values ​​for business-driven drones and their users”. She recently appeared on a list of Fortune of more powerful women, precisely because of their performance in the area of ​​drones.

The question that remains, of course, revolves around Ellman’s role in acting for Apple. Apple sells some basic drones in its stores and uses guided vehicles to collect information for its Maps, but the company’s ambitions can go further: according to Bloomberg, Apple has a team exploring the possibility of having satellites sending information directly to iPhones.

The lawyer, therefore, could use her influence to make sure that future (and unavoidable) laws related to drones and air vehicles address Apple’s intentions in the area, whatever they may be. It is worth noting that Apple has already hired, in 2017 and 2018, lobbyists to work in the aviation area in Washington.

Zach Kahn

Zack Kahn

Another recent hire shows that Apple is no joke in the podcasts. The company attracted the executive to its field Zach Kahn, who spent the last few years coordinating the area’s initiatives at Vox Media.

At Apple, Kahn will play the role of head of public relations in the podcast area, reporting to senior communications director Tom Neumayr. In this way, the newly hired person will get his hands dirty in Apple’s communication with content partners – thus strengthening the rumors of a company’s podcast platform.

via 9to5Mac, The Mac Observer