 Natalie Best |
French/West/Vaughan has named Natalie Best as its first chief operating officer. Best has been with FWV since 2002, most recently as executive vice president and director of client services. She has been an agency principal since 2009. Before coming to the agency, she was assistant director of public relations for the Charlotte Hornets. Best also serves as secretary/treasurer for IPREX, the network of worldwide communication agencies, which includes FWV. As COO, she will be responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of FWV together with president David Gwyn, reporting to chairman & CEO Rick French.
 Gerard LaFond |
LEWIS has appointed Gerard LaFond as senior vice president of east coast digital and picked Megan Maguire to head up the agency’s new Chicago office. LaFond joins LEWIS from Weber Shandwick, where he was executive vice president, client experience digital. He was previously vice president of digital communications at Cone Communications and executive director, marketing and digital product at Wolters Kluwer Law & Business. At LEWIS, LaFond will work to strengthen the agency’s digital footprint across North America, as well as support client demand in social media marketing, paid search advertising, design and development. Maguire comes to LEWIS from MSLGROUP, where she served as vice president. She was previously director, influence lead at Leo Burnett.
 Joanna Horn |
MERGE Atlanta has brought on Joanna Horn as vice president. Horn comes to the agency from LEWIS, where she most recently served as vice president, managing the firm’s day-to-day operations and strategic relationships with global partners, as well as leading some of the agency’s top accounts. Previously, while with Davies Murphy Group (which was acquired by LEWIS in 2013), Horn opened its first European office in London. At MERGE, she will oversee client partnerships, help drive enhanced performances through strategic communications and work to build and manage client teams. Horn will work out of the agency’s Atlanta office. The agency also has Boston and Chicago offices.
 Rick Gomes |
Allied Global Marketing has named Rick Gomes to lead its New York national publicity department as vice president, national publicity, entertainment. Gomes most recently ran his own media relations consultancy. He previously was director, public relations & talent relations at Travel Channel, where he led publicity campaigns for such franchises as Andrew Zimmern’s “Bizarre Foods America.” Gates has also served as vice president at Sayles Winnikoff Communications, where his clients included ION Television, THIRTEEN/WNET and Bravo. In addition to leading Allied’s New York team, he will help manage PR efforts for the agency’s film, television, streaming and brand clients.
Chelsey Thomas, who was a VP at Booz Allen Hamilton and a professional staff member on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, is joining defense technology company AEVEX as VP of government affairs.
Finn Partners has named Fahlgren Mortine veteran Marty McDonald as managing partner and head of its new Columbus office.
The Next Solutions Group names Michelle Agnew as VP, reputation and issues management. Agnew joins NSG from The Coca-Cola Company, where she was director of strategic communications... Nebius, which works with startups and enterprises building AI products, agents and services, appoints Lindsey Irvine as CMO... Zeta Global, an intelligent AI infrastructure company, names Leah Pope CMO and Candace Dean chief communications officer.
SiriusXM recruits Paramount Pictures EVP, global communications Jenny Tartikoff to serve as SVP and head of communications, effective August 10.
West of Fairfax, which is in Los Angeles, appoints Scott Mallone as president. Mallone joins the agency from SHFT Labs... Codeword ups Brandon Carter to SVP, head of strategy... JOTO PR Disruptors names Nick Westcott head of establishment, working to improve coordination across departments, and helping each part of the agency operate with greater clarity, consistency and readiness for scale. 
