Joe PaluskaJoe Paluska, who was VP-global communications & public policy at Better Place, an electric car battery re-charger start-up, is Edelman's new technology practice chair.

He succeeds Peter Pedersen, who departed in February to helm Huntsworth's Grayling unit.

Loss-plagued Better Place announced in February that it is winding down U.S. operations to concentrate on establishing battery car charging networks in Israel and Denmark.

Prior to Better Place, Paluska headed tech PR at Hill+Knowlton Strategies, which counted that company as a client.

At Edelman, Paluska reports to Alan VanderMolen, CEO of the firm’s global practices and vice chairman of parent company DJE Holdings.