The National Association of Professional Employer Organizations, the trade association for the PEO industry, named Pat Cleary as president and CEO effective Dec. 5. Cleary comes to NAPEO from public relations firm Fleishman-Hillard, where he served as senior vice president of digital public affairs.

“Pat joins NAPEO at a critical moment for the PEO industry,” said NAPEO Chairman Arthur Geiger.

NAPEO’s top federal legislative priority, the Small Business Efficiency Act (H.R. 2466), is being considered by Congress, Geiger said. In addition, there are other pending regulatory actions before the federal government and several states are considering legislation that will impact the PEO industry.

“Pat’s background and expertise will prove very useful in assisting NAPEO in achieving its policy priorities,” said Geiger, who is also president and CEO of Avitus Group, a Billings, Mont.-based PEO.

Cleary held a series of posts at the National Association of Manufacturers prior to Fleishman-Hillard. Cleary’s past experience also includes serving as member and chair of the National Mediation Board and as the deputy assistant secretary for policy at the U.S. Department of Labor.

“This is a great time to be joining this organization and this industry,” Cleary said. “The increasing complexity of workplace regulations makes the professional employer organization model very attractive to businesses of all sizes. This is an industry that is poised for great growth.”