The National Cable & Telecommunications Association announced Tuesday morning that it has hired Kyle McSlarrow as president and CEO, effective March 1. Mr. McSlarrow previously served as a deputy secretary of the Department of Energy and once worked for former Sen. Bob Dole, R-Kan., and Sen. Trent Lott, R-Miss.

NCTA’s current CEO, Robert Sachs, is a Democrat, as were the past couple of association presidents. So Mr. McSlarrow’s hiring represents a political shift in the association’s leadership, spurred by a recognition of the fact that the House, Senate and White House are all currently dominated by Republicans.

A GOP connection is expected to be particularly important for cable during the next few years because Congress is planning a major rewrite of the nation’s telecommunications law. But Glenn Britt, chairman of NCTA and chairman and CEO of Time Warner Cable, downplayed the significance of Mr. McSlarrow’s political roots. “Our issues are really bipartisan,” Mr. Britt said, adding that NCTA would not disclose the size or length of Mr. McSlarrow’s contract. “We were really looking for the best person we could find who could work with both sides.”

TelevisionWeek reported in the Jan 10 issue that Mr. McSlarrow was a top finalist for the $1 million-plus-a-year post.