Bill Cortese serves as a Senior Vice President at Mercury, where he advises clients on government relations, public affairs, and strategic communications at the intersection of policy, business, and global markets. He brings deep experience operating at both the domestic and international levels, with a focus on coalition building, stakeholder engagement, and complex policy environments.
Bill recently served as a Senior Advisor to House Republican Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik (R-NY), where he led coalition development and external outreach efforts on behalf of the Conference and advised on legislative, communications, and political strategy.
Over the course of his career, Bill has advised elected officials, trade associations, nonprofits, and Fortune 500 companies on designing and executing integrated lobbying and public affairs campaigns. His work increasingly focuses on global trade, supply chains, and strategic infrastructure, including the development and advancement of the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), where he is actively engaged with policymakers, industry leaders, and international stakeholders.
Bill is a member of the International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH) and serves on the Advisory Board of the Trieste Summit, where he contributes to discussions on global trade, maritime strategy, and economic connectivity across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.
Earlier in his career, Bill held roles across the local, state, federal, and international levels, including the New York City Council, the Connecticut General Assembly, the U.S. House of Representatives, and participation in the G20 Summit. He also served on the Finance Committee for President Donald J. Trump’s re-election campaign.
His work has been recognized by the Hartford Business Journal, which named him one of its “40 Under 40” leaders in Connecticut, and by PolitickerNJ, which included him on its annual “Power List” of top business and political leaders in New Jersey. He has been quoted in The Washington Post, Politico, National Journal, Roll Call, and other outlets on politics, campaigns, and public policy.
Bill is a veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom, having served six years in the United States Marine Corps, including a deployment with the Combined Joint Task Force–Horn of Africa.
