Abby Murray Vachon
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR
Abby is an Associate Director at NEWCO Strategies, bringing a unique background in public, private, and non-profit organizations. Most recently, Abby worked as a Strategist and Executive Recruiter at West Ventures, supporting startups globally. While at West, Abby integrated her expertise in culture, talent acquisition, and marketing. She provided founders with comprehensive guidance on various aspects of people and culture, from cultivating an inclusive and engaged workplace environment to establishing team values and defining the company mission. Abby helped teams orchestrate impactful brand campaigns and activations to drive success and create internal team building. Additionally, she led recruiting and hiring efforts for critical executive leadership roles for West’s startup portfolio.
Abby was one of the first team members of Pete Buttigieg's 2020 presidential campaign, serving as the Deputy Director of People. In this role, she played a vital part in establishing the organization's culture and operational structure during rapid expansion, contributing to scaling the team from 30 individuals to over 600 within a few months. Abby led several initiatives, including implementing employee development and wellness programs, overseeing intern programs, and creating culture-building efforts at campaign headquarters. Additionally, she played a pivotal role in orchestrating activation and event strategies in key primary states.
Abby began her career in the arts as a professional actress, touring and performing in over 35 productions across the country. Performance highlights include the Jeff Award-winning production of Sweeney Todd at Paramount Theatre, performing with Leslie Uggams at the Victoria Theatre, and portraying Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady with The Michigan Symphony Orchestra.
She received her MBA from Bluffton University, with a focus on leadership for the common good, and her BFA from Wright State University in musical theatre. She was a member of Second City Training Conservatory and Del Close’s Improv Olympics Theatre in Chicago.
