 AnnaMaria DeSalva |
AnnaMaria DeSalva is returning to WPP’s Hill+Knowlton Strategies unit as chairman/CEO on June 24, taking over for Jack Martin, who will remain an adviser until the end of the year.
She left DuPont as chief communications officer in February after guiding communications through its $130B mega-merger with Dow and establishing the corporate affairs capability of the combined entity.
Prior to the chemical giant posting, DeSalva was VP-corporate affairs at Pfizer and advisor to the Food and Drug Administration on risk communications.
From 2006-2009, she headed worldwide healthcare at H+K, a job she took after leaving the healthcare managing director slot at GCI Group, another WPP unit.
DeSalva currently serves as vice chairman of XPO Logistics, provider of transportation and supply chain solutions, and is a member of the board of governors at the Argonne National Laboratory, the science and engineering center of the Dept. of Energy.
As CEO of H&K, she will work in tandem with co-presidents Richard Miller and Lars Erik Grønntun.
WPP chief Mark Read said of DeSalva’s appointment: “AnnaMaria is an exceptional communicator and leader whose experience spans the corporate management, governance and agency worlds. With her broad perspective, understanding of client needs and history with WPP, she is well qualified to take the reins of this great business."
4media group completes its acquisition of Family Features Editorial Syndicate... Illumination PR, which represents lifestyle brands, influencers and celebrities, launches DR Media Group... EAG Advertising and Marketing acquires pay-for-performance firm INK inc. Public Relations. 
LLYC launches Signs of Pride, a campaign that revives the original protest banners of the first Pride marches... The Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry forms the Public Relations and Digital Marketing Working Group... Circle of One Marketing, a Miami-based, minority-owned marketing agency, is named official agency of record for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Miami. 
Vogel Group, a DC-headquartered government affairs and consulting firm, forms a strategic partnership with Montreal-based public affairs firm Boléro Stratégies... Matter Communications launches project-based offerings for B2C companies looking to increase brand awareness and visibility... Tucker/Hall, a Tampa-based PR and public affairs firm, opens a new office in Orlando. 
Why investing in public relations is ultimately about building bridges in a connected world.
Edelman is laying off 330 people (5.3 percent of its workforce) to cope with an anticipated eight percent shortfall in 2024 US revenues, and client demand for one-stop shopping for speciality services.
