 Chris Paxton |
Hotwire is bringing on Chris Paxton in the newly created role of chief strategy officer, effective Feb. 4. He comes to Hotwire from The Leading Edge, where he was CEO, EMEA. Both Hotwire and The Leading Edge are owned by Enero Group Limited. At The Leading Edge, Paxton built a team of global strategists to help evolve the agency from an insights business to a global strategy agency. In his new role, Paxton will work to accelerate ongoing collaboration between Hotwire and The Leading Edge as well as with other agencies in the Enero network. He will assume leadership of Hotwire’s existing Strategy and Marketing Services Group along with US-based executive vice president Sahana Jayaraman.
 Darlene Doyle |
PAN Communications has promoted Darlene Doyle to executive vice president, client relations, and Lisa Astor to senior vice president and managing director, North America. Doyle has been with PAN since 2015, most recently serving as a senior vice president. Before coming to the agency, she was a vice president at Version 2.0 Communications and ran her own consulting business. In her new role, she will address the firm’s strategic need for executive leadership across agency-wide client initiatives. Astor has been at PAN since 2007 and has been a senior vice president since 2016. She will oversee PAN’s San Francisco, New York and Orlando offices, with responsibility for working with the individual general managers to foster careers, hire new talent, increase brand awareness and develop regional growth strategies.
 Nicole Chardavoyne |
Markstein has named Nicole Chardavoyne vice president, Mid Atlantic in its Washington, D.C. office. Chardavoyne specializes in corporate reputation, issues management, media training and social impact. Prior to joining Markstein, she was a vice president at Qorvis Communications/MSL, where she led campaigns for clients including UPS, the National Safety Council, Firestone, Constellation Brands and Beam Global Spirits & Wine (now Beam Suntory). Chardavoyne also ran Qorvis’s media training practice. Chardavoyne joins Markstein’s D.C. team as the firm continues to expand its corporate, issues/crisis and advocacy work.
 Sharmila Swenson |
Symetra Life Insurance Company has appointed Sharmila Swenson as assistant vice president, public affairs. Swenson comes to Symetra from Puget Sound Energy, where she served as manager for local government affairs and public policy. Before that, she was relationship development officer for Treehouse, a nonprofit organization addressing the essential education and enrichment needs of youth in foster care. She also served as deputy chief of staff for then Congressman Jay Inslee, becoming director of operations in 2012 for Governor-elect Inslee’s transition team. Inslee is considering making a run for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020. Based in Symetra’s Bellevue, WA headquarters, Swenson will report to Trinity Parker, senior vice president, marketing, communications and public affairs.
Former deputy undersecretary of agriculture Darci Vetter joins berry producer Driscoll's as VP, public affairs.
The International Dairy Foods Association brings on 
INFINITE appoints Eric Wiedeke as head of talent, a newly created position intended to strengthen the firm’s people strategy and global growth ambitions... Anomaly promotes Kira Montgomery to executive strategy director, head of communications strategy, expanding her remit from the agency’s Toronto office to its full North American business... The Jackson Laboratory, which focuses on genetics and genomic medicine, appoints Steven Holstein as SVP of external affairs.
Global Counsel managing director Benedict Brogan is joining FTI Consulting as a senior managing director within its strategic communications segment.
Lionsgate, which brings together diversified motion picture and television production and distribution businesses, promotes Laurel Pecchia to SVP, corporate communications... Anonymous Content, a New York-based film production and management company, recruits former Showtime/MTV executive vice president Liza Burnett Fefferman as chief communications and marketing officer, a newly created position... Legacy Motor Club brings on Ryan Grab as VP, marketing and communications.
