 Amber Roberts |
Vested has appointed Amber Roberts chief executive officer of its professional services operation in the US. Roberts comes to Vested after serving as senior partner at Finn Partners. She opened the New York office of LANE PR in 2008 and grew the agency’s east coast presence and client base until its acquisition by Finn in 2016. She previously led business, trade and consumer PR campaigns for Microsoft at Waggener Edstrom Worldwide. At Vested, Roberts will focus on expanding the firm’s programs and services, new business development, and staff leadership. Reporting into Vested Group President Binna Kim, she will work alongside U.K. CEO Elspeth Rothwell, hired in January, to jointly coordinate and maximize the growth of Vested’s service offering across both regions.
 Kate Krane |
Edelman has hired Kate Krane as brand practice lead for the Pacific Northwest. Krane joins Edelman from SapientRazorfish, where she was most recently a managing partner, overseeing a portfolio of West Coast-based businesses including T-Mobile, Taco Bell and Nordstrom. Previously, she was a senior client partner at Seattle marketing and advertising firm POP, serving as an integral member of a team that launched several high-profile Windows phone apps. In her new post, Krane will leverage her traditional and digital agency experience to drive the brand practice’s growth.
 Philip Betbeze |
Lovell Communications has brought on Philip Betbeze as senior advisor. Betbeze comes to Lovell from HealthLeaders Media, where he had been senior strategy editor. Before that, he was an editor at the Nashville Business Journal. In his new role, Betbeze will lead and support communications strategies for the firm’s national health care client base. Lovell president and CEO Rosemary Plorin said that Betbeze’s “deep knowledge, keen insights and vast industry relationships would be an asset to our firm and our clients across the country.” Lovell also recently promoted Alli Finkelston and Bailey Wimmer to account executives.
SKDK has hired Brian Klemesrud, a Democratic political ad-maker, as its chief creative director.
FTI Consulting appoints Jason Leow as a senior managing director in its strategic communications segment. He was vice chair and head of APAC at Edelman Smithfield... Ballard Partners is bringing on Tucker Knott, who currently serves as chief of staff to Sen. Ted Budd (R-NC), as a partner in DC.... TMRW Sports, a sports media company founded by Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy and former NBC Sports Group president, golf and global strategy Mike McCarley, names Peter Jung as CMO.
Ripley PR realigns its leadership team with the promotion of Anthony Cloud to managing director, B2C and franchising, and a new role for Grayson Shockley as managing director, B2B. Cloud, who joined Ripley PR in October 2020, has held multiple roles within the agency, including brand manager and content specialist... Walker Sands adds former Havas Digital global CEO and chairman George Gallate to its board of directors... Stewards, a diversified financial company based in Fort Lauderdale, FL, appoints Scott McGowan as CMO.
Kevin Lawlor, who most recently served as chief political officer and EVP at DDC Public Affairs, is coming on board at Zeno Group as head of public affairs.
Former Ketchum partner Esty Pujadas joins Grayling as CEO of its North America business, part of the agency’s expansion in the region.
