Norutiene
Rita Saunoryte Norutiene

PROI Worldwide has added Agency 1323 in Lithuania to boost its presence in the Baltic States and provide communications services to companies headquartered in Lithuania as well as around the world. Led by founding partners Rita Saunoryte Norutiene and Arturas Jonkus, the agency, established in 2014, provides senior consulting services to national and international companies. “The Lithuanian Economy is driven by increasing exports of goods and services worldwide,” said Norutiene. “The global expansion of business requires companies to obtain communication support in foreign markets and as part of PROI Worldwide we have expanded our capabilities to provide those services to our clients anywhere in the world”.

Virginie Le Norigeant
Virginie Le Norgant

The Travel Lifestyle Network has appointed a new executive chairman and board. At its annual general meeting in Singapore, TLN members named Virginie Le Norgant, director of Group Expression of France as executive chairman, succeeding founder Hanna Kleber, chairman and owner of Germany-based KPRN Network. Kleber now becomes honorary chairman and will remain on the board. David Zapata, CEO and founder of Zapwater Communications, was reappointed to the board and will continue to be the representative member for the Americas. Paul Charles, CEO of The PC Agency in the UK, will represent Europe on the board and Paul Hicks, co-founder of Hong Kong-based Grebstad Hicks Communications (GHCAsia), will represent Asia members. TLN comprises 17 independent PR agencies. It operates in 23 markets, services over 500 clients and employs over 350 people.

Wagstaff

As part of its 20th anniversary celebration, Wagstaff has introduced the Wagstaff Diversity and Development Fellowship. The fellowship, a collaboration with Women Chefs & Restaurateurs, consists of a two-month long professional development opportunity for two students or working professionals who have exhibited a commitment to and an innovative approach toward hospitality marketing. Two fellowships will be granted each year with application requirements and details to be finalized this month. The organization says that the intention of the fellowship is to create opportunities for a more diverse group of individuals to learn about and contribute to the hospitality industry. Wagstaff’s services include branding, crisis readiness and communication training, and paid media campaigns such as programmatic, display, retargeting, and native ad formats.