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| Jim Joseph |
The PR Council has voted in BCW global president Jim Joseph as chair. Joseph, who will serve a two-year term, succeeds Weber Shandwick CEO Gail Heimann. “During my term, I will focus our efforts on solving critical talent questions,” said Joseph. Walker Sands president Mike Santoro will take the role of treasurer. Santoro and Joseph will be members of the council’s executive committee, joining Double-Forte CEO Lee Caraher, who serves as PRC secretary, and PRC president Kim Sample. Newly elected board members, who will serve three-year terms, are Fleishman-Hillard COO J.J. Carter, Egami CEO Teneshia Jackson Warner and MWWPR CEO Michael Kempner. The PRC’s active members from over 110 U.S. agencies represent around 80 percent of U.S. PR firm revenues and employ over 12,000 professionals.
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| Rebecca Ballard |
Purple Strategies has brought on Rebecca Ballard as managing director, communications, marketing and engagement, a newly created role. Ballard comes to Purple Strategies from Hill + Knowlton Strategies, where she most recently served as head of communication and culture for H+K U.S. and founder and executive director of the firm's women's network. She began her career at Public Strategies, which merged with H+K Strategies in 2011. In her new position, Ballard will build out and lead internal and external communications. “Rebecca's deep experience partnering with both client- and agency-side leaders through times of growth and change will be an invaluable asset for us,” said Purple Strategies partner and COO Kristen Morgante.
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| Michelle Pearson-Casey |
Olympic Steel has named Michelle Pearson-Casey vice president, corporate communications & marketing. Pearson-Casey was previously at the company from 1999 to 2015, leaving to take on the role of manager, communications & change management at the J.M. Smucker Company. She most recently served as a communications and change management consultant at Blue Communications Agency. Pearson-Casey will lead Olympic Steel’s internal and external communications efforts, reporting to company CEO Richard Marabito. “Michelle brings a wealth of experience in developing and delivering effective communications strategies,” said Marabito.
ICR adds Donna F. Anderson to its governance & shareholder advisory practice as senior advisor. She comes to ICR from T. Rowe Price... Troutman Strategies, a government affairs firm that is a subsidiary of legal firm Troutman Pepper Locke, promotes Neftali Partida and Tom Tilton to principal... Hancock Whitney, a Gulfport, MS-based financial services company, brings on Mary Elizabeth Stringer as director of government affairs, a newly created role.
Ballard Strategy Group names former Burson managing director Mike Waterman as MD. Waterman comes to Ballard from ROKK Solutions... The Herald Group brings on Trace Scruggs and Evan Lukaske as VPs... Travelier, which operates platforms for booking intercity transportation services via buses, trains and ferries in 124 countries, appoints Mario Gavira as CMO. 
Raffetto Herman Strategic Communications brings on Jessica Gail, who served as director of communications for Rep. Eric Swalwell, as senior media lead... Prime Therapeutics appoints Katie Payne as chief external affairs officer, a newly created role. She was previously a senior director at APCO... Thunderly promotes Jason Weaver to director of paid media. 
Ruder Finn hires Brent Mullins as SVP, talent and partnerships. Mullins joins the agency from 160over90, where he was VP, entertainment marketing... Allison Worldwide names Katie Huang Shin global president, technology, effective Nov. 14... Vasion, which provides serverless printing and AI-enabled automation, appoints Cindy White as CMO. 
Mod Op brings on John Powers and Alan Kipust as part of its Executive in Residence program, which already includes former Dun & Bradstreet chief data officer Monica Richter... Takeda Pharmaceuticals hires James-Denton Wyllie as head of R&D and external innovation communications... Veeam Software, which specializes in data resilience solutions, appoints Allison Cerra as CMO.
