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Clarity has brought on Jay Kolbe as executive VP, emerging technologies and Michael Paffmann as vice president, enterprise. The agency has also promoted Sherry Smith from account director to vice president in charge of media, mobile and marketing. Kolbe comes to the firm from Sparkpr, where he most recently served as executive vice president. He was previously a vice president at Weber Shandwick. Paffmann joins Clarity from 5W Public Relations, where he was a vice president. He has also been a director at Highline PR. Smith has been at Clarity since 2016, and has also served as project consultant at Nadine Johnson Inc. and an account supervisor at MWW. All three will be based in the firm’s New York office. Clarity acquired DRSmedia earlier this year and has recently opened an office in San Francisco.
 Barry Wygel |
Baker Public Relations of Albany has added former Spectrum News reporter Barry Wygel to its team as media strategist and senior account executive. Wygel was with Spectrum for six years, earning an Emmy nomination for his reporting of the anniversary of Tropical Storm Irene as well as spearheading a weekly segment called “Wygel at Work” which looked at area professions and businesses. Founded in 2007 by former TV anchor and reporter Megan Baker, Baker PR serves business, government and non-profit groups.
 Kristin Gregory |
Stratacomm has promoted five team members in its Washington, D.C. and Detroit offices. Kristin Gregory and Brooke Ziomek are now account directors; Nicole Golvala becomes senior account executive; and Marcella Dudek and Amber Garnett advance to the account executive position. Before coming to Statatcomm last year, Gregory, was director, public relations & marketing at Swanson Communications. She leads several federal and local government accounts for the firm. Ziomek has been at Stratacomm since 2013. Her responsibilities include overseeing product launch strategy for Nissan North America. Golvala holds client and account management responsibility across The Parks at Walter Reed and American Geophysical Union and manages projects for several federal government agencies. Dudek and Garnett each support several key firm accounts.
Alcoa has named Emily Olson, who has more than 20 years of experience working in capital-intensive industries in the Americas, Europe and Asia, EVP & chief external affairs officer, effective April 6.
Longacre Square Partners has named Humza Vanderman partner and head of its London outpost as the financial communications firm expands into Europe.
MOIA America, a Volkswagen Group of America subsidiary that develops and tests autonomous, all-electric ride-pooling vehicles, names Marcus Gamo head of U.S. communications... Continental Strategy brings on Francisco Petrirena as VP in its Miami office. Petrirena was previously chief of staff to former Miami city manager Art Noriega... MSQ Sport + Entertainment brings on Lauren Weil as EVP, Max Hirsch as VP of sponsorship, and Brooke Losee as VP.
Burson promotes EMEA COO Matt Buchanan to global chief social and Influence officer, a newly created role... Seedtag, a “global neuro-contextual advertising company,” brings on former Edelman SVP, corporate and public affairs Brendan McCarthy as chief marketing & communications officer... The Associated Press ups Lauren Easton to SVP and chief communications officer.
USAA, which provides insurance, banking and retirement solutions for members of the US and their families, names Chris Curtin as CMO... Hemlo Mining, a Canadian gold producer, appoints Jason Banducci as VP, corporate development & investor relations... rbb Communications promotes four senior executives to SVP. 
