National Republican Congressional Committee spokesman Ken Spain is headed downtown. 

Spain, who worked in the NRCC press shop for two campaign cycles and served as communications director for the 2010 cycle, has been hired by the Private Equity Growth Capital Council to be its vice president of public affairs and communication. The trade group represents large money managers and investment firms such as Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co., Bain Capital Partners and the Carlyle Group. 

In a statement, the association’s top executive outlined an ambitious grass-roots program Spain will lead in the coming months. The financial sector, including private equity groups and hedge funds, has taken a public relations bruising during the economic downturn and continues to be a popular boogeyman for politicians and pundits alike — damage Spain appears to be tasked with repairing.

“Our top priority in the next 12-24 months is to tell the private equity success story state by state and district by district and Ken brings the proven communications and campaign management skills to help us accomplish that goal,” PEGCC President Douglas Lowenstein said. 

Prior to his stint at the NRCC, Spain worked on the 2004 Bush/Cheney presidential campaign and for Republican Reps. John Shadegg (Ariz.) and Mike Conaway (Texas).