Robin Pringle, center, at the 2011 Children’s Museum Birthday Bash. (Steve Peterson, Special to The Denver Post)
In addition to hearing the traditional “Merry Christmas” or “happy holidays,” guests at Gov. John Hickenlooper’s annual yuletide gathering got a bit of a surprise: he’s got a girlfriend.
While Hickenlooper made no formal announcement at the Wednesday cocktail party held in the Governor’s Mansion, several of the guests were quick to let The Denver Post know that the governor had introduced Robin Pringle to them as his girlfriend.
“As they say, good news travels fast,” he responded to our request for confirmation. “Yes, I have been dating a young woman named Robin Pringle. We met more than a year ago, but only started dating some months ago, almost, as sometimes happens, by accident.”
Hickenlooper and author Helen Thorpe, whom he married in 2002, have been separated since July, 2012. The parting was amicable; in their announcement they stated: “Please feel free to include both of us in social gatherings as we will not find it awkward.”
Thorpe has been dating as well. She has been seen lately at events like the Museum of Contemporary Arts Luminocity Gala, where she held hands with Sascha Steinway.
Pringle is vice president/corporate development for Englewood-based . According to her profile on LinkedIn, she earned a bachelor of arts degree in public policy from Duke University in 2000 and an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University in 2008.
She is on the board of the , and the Colorado Innovation Network. The included her in its 2013 class of young leaders.
The governor, 62, concluded in his email to the Post, “Robin and I now feel comfortable sharing the fact that we are dating, but like any couple that is embarking on a new relationship, we are asking that our privacy be respected.
“And yes, she is pretty great.”
Hickenlooper was elected to a second term as Colorado governor in November. Inaugural activities Jan. 13 sold-out concert with the Lumineers and other bands at the Ogden Theatre, a dinner at the Fillmore Auditorium and a ceremony at the State Capitol.
Joanne Davidson: 303-809-1314, jdavidson@denverpost.com and @joannedavidson on Twitter
