Bill Whitman, Jr., an agency pro and former communications chief at McDonald's, has landed the top PR slot at the U.S. Postal Service in Washington.
Whitman takes the VP, corporate communications, role vacated by Sam Pulcrano in June 2013, when the 37-year postal vet retired.
Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe, on a campaign to push for major changes in the postal service, including the end of Saturday delivery, said Whitman will "lead our efforts to advance public understanding of our products, services and corporate mission."
In recent years, Whitman has counseled clients through his own Chicago firm. He was a managing director for Burson-Marsteller in 2011 after 13 years with McDonald's, where he rose to become VP and chief communications officer in 2008.
He also worked in PR and public affairs with Exxon USA and handled accounts at FleishmanHillard.
Business leaders will face challenges in the upcoming year, some of which will come as a complete surprise, or beyond anyone's imagination.
Teneo has hired Philipp Grontzki, who is a 20-year veteran of corporate communications and financial journalism, as a managing director in its strategy and communications group.
Rowan Benecke, who co-founded Zeno Group and helmed Burson-Marsteller's tech practice, has joined McKinsey & Co as director of communications for North America.
BCW has named Golin's Matt Coldagelli EVP and leader of its corporate affairs practice in Chicago.
Abby Bailey, who headed corporate communications for Fedex in its Middle East, India and Africa region, has joined Teneo as managing director in Dubai.
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