When Comptroller of the Currency Eugene A. Ludwig wants to know how the outside world will react to an agency initiative, he leans his head into Chris Lewis' office.
Just two doors down from the comptroller, Mr. Lewis, 36, needs nearly five minutes to explain his job as special adviser for external relations. He's part spin doctor, part fact-checker, part strategist, and part sounding board for Mr. Ludwig.
Essentially, as Mr. Lewis describes it, he makes sure the OCC doesn't look stupid.
"I help make sure where we are seeking exposure, we get maximum exposure, and when we put out something that may be controversial with some constituencies, that we're not being stupid in the way we get it out the door," he says.
He's also a filter for much of the endless stream of speeches, legal interpretations, and letters the OCC puts out.
"I'm relied on to assure our views are consistent," Mr. Lewis says. "I make sure that whatever it is we're doing fits with where Gene is right now."
Mr. Lewis was practically raised on banking policy. His father, Jake, spent three decades on the House Banking Committee staff.
"I got a love of policy issues from him," Mr. Lewis says. "He taught me - and continues to teach me - the ins and outs of how business is done in Washington."
Before joining the Comptroller's Office in October 1994, Mr. Lewis spent two years as a lobbyist for the Consumer Federation of America. As a result, Mr. Ludwig is especially keen on Mr. Lewis' opinions about consumer and community development issues.
His experience as a consumer advocate frequently involved pushing legislation that the banking industry opposed. That made him an unusual hire for the agency, Mr. Lewis acknowledges.
"I don't think I was ever perceived as an enemy in the midst, but I am a bit of an alien in this crowd. On top of that, I'm not a lawyer or a bank examiner," he says. "I hope I've proven that it's a valuable distinction."
Mr. Lewis joined the agency as a community affairs program coordinator. Less than a year later, he was heading the agency's new community relations division, where he set up meetings between community groups and Mr. Ludwig. In October, he was promoted again to special adviser.
During his OCC tenure, Mr. Lewis has earned the respect of consumer, community, and banking groups alike.
"He's sharp, real easy to talk to, and has become one of the real players over there," says Joe Belew, president of the Consumer Bankers Association. "Ludwig's push to modernize the industry is full of consumer issues, and Chris is the guy who balances helping national banks while making sure the agency isn't running afoul of the consumers."
"He has seen banking regulation from more perspectives than most people," says Allen J. Fishbein, general counsel of the Center for Community Change. "It's no wonder that Gene relies on him."
Mr. Lewis spends his vacations "kicking around" Third World countries. In January, he traveled through Peru and Bolivia to stay with friends and visit archaeological sites. Mr. Lewis also has visited Tibet and southern Mexico.
"The beliefs and mores of other cultures aren't only aesthetically pleasing, but provide an easy way to gain perspective on my own life," he says.
