On the Move: Feldman Takes Managing Director Post at Allison+Partners

Jill Feldman

Allison+Partners has promoted Jill Feldman to managing director, corporate, U.S. Feldman has been with the firm since 2014, most recently serving as executive, vice president, corporate communications. In addition to leading strategic communication functions for high-profile organizations and creating thought leadership and executive visibility programs, she co-founded the agency’s Women’s Leadership Program. The agency has also promoted Hadas Streit and David Baum from senior vice president to executive vice president. All will report to Tom Smith, president, Corporate, North America.

Kayla Leska

Development Counsellors International has promoted Kayla Leska to managing director of tourism public relations. Leska has been with the agency since 2015, most recently as director of public relations. Before coming to DCI, she worked at KTCpr. In her new role, Leska will oversee communications strategy for DCI’s tourism public relations division clients and direct the firm’s tourism crisis/recovery communication efforts. She will also facilitate professional development programs for DCI’s tourism public relations staff in New York, Los Angeles and Toronto, Canada. “Kayla’s ability to develop strategic public relations campaigns that consistently drive results is a major asset to DCI and our destination clients,” said Karyl Leigh Barnes, president of DCI’s tourism practice.

Phil Bryant

Bryant Songy Snell Global Partners has brought former Mississippi governor Phil Bryant on board as founding partner. Formerly Songy LLC, the strategy and business development firm was launched last September by Joey Songy, the governor’s former chief of staff. Bryant will focus on economic development in the Southeast and international trade markets, and remain active in national and local political arenas. Songy will continue to focus on business development and strategic planning, and new founding partner Katie Bryant Snell, who was previously at her own legal firm, will provide strategic advice and counsel on development opportunities and advocate for policy initiatives. Bryant ended his eight years as governor on Jan. 14. Prior to that, he was lieutenant governor and state auditor.

Blair Hunter-Grant

Taft Communications has hired Blair Hunter-Grant as senior communications manager. Hunter-Grant joins Taft from Current Global, where she was manager, client experience. Previously, she worked for Viacom and FOX News Corp., and then launched and ran an event-planning and production company. Hunter-Grant, who will spend part of her time in Taft’s Newark, NJ, office, manages public relations activities, including developing communications strategies, budgets and client relationships. Taft has also promoted Jenna DeMato to account coordinator.