Josh Earnest
Josh Earnest is executive vice president of communications and advertising for United Airlines. He serves on United’s Executive Team and leads a world-class team to develop and implement the airline’s global communications, advertising and community engagement strategies. Josh works closely with leaders across the company to shape the airline’s public image and serves as the company’s chief spokesman. He brings to this role more than two decades of strategic communications expertise from the highest levels of politics and government, which included serving as White House Press Secretary.
Before joining United in May 2018, Josh was a political analyst for NBC News and MSNBC, making appearances on the network’s leading news programs including the Today Show, Meet the Press and NBC Nightly News. During this time, he traveled across the country and around the world speaking to audiences of corporate executives, senior government officials, thought leaders, journalists and students about the challenges of communicating in the modern media environment.
Prior to that, Josh served for eight years in the Obama White House, including as White House Press Secretary from 2014 to 2017. In addition to his work in front of the cameras, Josh played a leading role behind the scenes at the White House to develop and implement an innovative communications strategy that was paired with a fully-integrated digital media presence to drive the administration’s agenda.
His two-decade career in politics has taken him from Capitol Hill to some of the largest states and most competitive races in the country, including four presidential campaigns, statewide races in Texas and Florida and Mike Bloomberg’s first campaign for mayor of New York.
Josh received his degree in political science and policy studies from Rice University. He is married and has two children.