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| Michele Davis |
Sard Verbinnen & Co. has brought on Michele Davis as a senior counselor. Davis joins SVC from Morgan Stanley, where she was global head of corporate relations and served on the company’s management committee. She was previously at The Brunswick Group, where she was a partner and co-head of the agency’s Washington, DC office. Davis also served as assistant secretary for public affairs and policy planning for the U.S. Department of the Treasury during the George W. Bush administration. At SVC, she will advise the agency and its clients across such practice areas as public affairs, financial communications.
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| Grace Zheng |
AMO Group, part of Havas Worldwide, has appointed Grace Zheng as managing director for Asia. Zheng comes to AMO from Newgate Communications, where she was a founding partner in Greater China. Her expertise covers financial PR, corporate reputation, media relations and crisis management. In her new position, Zheng will lead the AMO network’s expansion across Asia, working from its Shanghai and Hong Kong offices. She will also join the company’s board. “Grace’s experience, skill and determination will be decisive assets as we move forward,” said AMO chairman Angus Maitland.
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| Michael Taylor |
Kellen, which provides management and strategic support services to trade associations and professional societies, has named Michael Taylor senior director of public affairs. Taylor’s previous experience includes serving as vice president, international affairs and trade at the Plastics Industry Association, and director for Europe and multilateral programs at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s global intellectual property center. At Kellen, he will lead a team that oversees government and regulatory affairs initiatives on behalf of agency clients while exploring opportunities for trade associations and professional societies to elevate their presence among relevant governing bodies. “Michael’s extensive track record of successful advocacy programs aligns closely with the key industries Kellen clients are working to protect and advance,” said Kellen chairman and CEO Peter Rush.
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.
The Dallas Mavericks bring on Gina Miller as chief communications officer, a newly created role. She was previously with Major League Soccer team FC Dallas... Americans for the Arts, a nonprofit organization that advances arts advocacy, names Jamey Lundblad as CMO... Ambac Financial Group, an insurance holding company, names Karen Beyer managing director, head of investor relations.
Actum has hired Cecelia Prewett, who was president of DC Public Affairs at SKDK during a nearly 13-year run, as senior managing director in its Washington office.
Franz Paasche, who was most recently EVP for public affairs and communications at Columbia University, will join Verizon as EVP, corporate affairs, effective Nov. 10.
Horizon Family Brands, which includes Horizon Organic and Wallaby Organic yogurt, hires Andrew Springate as CMO... Wake Tech, a Raleigh, NC community college that serves over 70,000 adults annually, brings on Lisa Marie Ferrell, who previously led North America communications at Lenovo, as VP of communications and marketing... Golin brings on executive creative director Meg Farquhar in Chicago, and EVPs of strategy Tom Howells (Western Region) and Martin Coomber (New York).
