 Hitesh Balwada |
Edelman has added Hitesh Balwada to its financial communications & capital markets team in Chicago as executive vice president. Balwada joins Edelman from William Blair, where he was responsible for executing M&A and equity deals across multiple sectors. He was previously an associate, corporate finance at Needham & Company. In his new position, Balwada will lead investor relations, M&A and special situations work in the Midwest. Edelman’s financial communications & capital markets team is geared toward helping public and private companies promote and protect their reputations as well as navigate complex financial issues and situations.
 Steve Alberts |
Lumentus has hired Steve Alberts as senior account director, digital strategy. Alberts most recently served as digital engagement strategy director for healthcare advertising firms DDB Health and the Bloc, guiding coordinated customer experience initiatives and creating websites, customer relationship management programs and social strategies. Previously, he led the U.S. digital practice for MerchantCantos, the Brunswick Group's creative communications agency. He has also created a streaming music website, RareMusic, and overhauled Comedy Central’s web property. Lumentus senior partner Rob Beltran said that Alberts “brings not only a wealth of experience to Lumentus, but a breadth of knowledge about our key practice areas and competence across a range of cutting-edge technologies.”
 Courtney Engel Photo by Sharon Suh |
Jonesworks has appointed Courtney Engel managing director in the agency’s New York office, leading its consumer and lifestyle division. Engel comes to Jonesworks from Grey, where she founded the consumer PR practice in 2008 and served as SVP of the practice. She drove new business for the activation, talent and PR team as well as leading strategic PR campaigns, always-on news bureaus and executive visibility for a diverse group of clients. Before that, she was a senior account executive at Dan Klores Communications.
DCI Group has hired Will Stevens, who has more than 20 years of
Imre names Fred Hickman EVP, group account lead. Hickman joins Imre from Klick, an agency that works with life sciences companies... Residence, a global network of creative companies, brings on Julian McBride as head of communications, a newly created role... Sherlock Communications, which has offices in Bogotå, Buenos Aires, Mexico City, Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo and Santiago, appoints Bianca Boucault, Maria Amelia Costa and Patricia Zylberman as managing directors.
Nick Mammano, who was president/CEO of the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority, has rejoined Mercury Public Affairs as a managing director in its Saddle Brook office.
Seven Letter hires Allie Raffa, who was most recently White House correspondent for NBC News, as a senior director... Points of Light, an organization founded by President George H.W. Bush that is dedicated to volunteer service, names Jeff Zanelli as CMO... Frontieras North America, an energy and environmental technology company, appoints Nora Shepard as VP of communications.
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.
