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| John Quick |
Hill+Knowlton Strategies has appointed John Quick senior vice president, healthcare in the US. Quick previously worked at H+K from 2003-2005, when he was group director of the New York Healthcare team. He rejoins H+K from Edelman, where he was an executive vice president, leading the Janssen Oncology team and serving on Edelman’s Johnson & Johnson global client leadership team. Quick has also worked as a consultant to such firms as Weber Shandwick, Golin Harris, Porter Novelli and DNA Communications. Based in H+K’s New York office, Quick will help drive strategy and innovation across H+K’s US health and pharmaceutical clients, with particular focus on product communications throughout the lifecycle. “John will be a tremendous asset to our US team and I look forward to bringing his thinking to our clients as we expand the breadth and depth of our healthcare business,” said H+K global president and CEO of the Americas Richard Millar.
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| Tara Smith |
Intel Corporation has promoted Tara Smith to chief communications officer. Smith was previously vice president of technology communications at the company. Before joining Intel in 2016, she was a senior vice president at WE Communications, where she served as an executive lead on the agency’s Microsoft business, heading up the Windows and OEM teams. Smith has also held senior-level communications roles at software startup Marqui and Silicon Valley-based Sterling Communications. In her new role, she will oversee Intel’s global communications organization, promoting the company’s brand through strategic corporate, technology and employee communications. “Tara demonstrates a strong understanding of our people, and her purpose-driven leadership distinguishes her within Intel and in the industry,” said Michelle Johnston Holthaus, Intel executive vice president and general manager of its sales, marketing and communications group.
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| Barry Wygel |
Baker Public Relations has promoted Barry Wygel to manager, creative services. Wygel has been with Baker since October 2018, most recently serving as a senior account executive. He was previously a videojournalist at Spectrum News in Albany, NY. Wygel will lead the agency’s creative services team (marketing, editorial, graphic design and video) and oversee a new 1,000-square-foot video and podcast production studio, creating earned, owned and social concepts and ideas, and providing quality control on all agency-wide initiatives. “By expanding our in-house creative capabilities, we’re filling a need for our clients to add value to key audiences through content that reflects their personality and builds trust,” said agency founder, president and CEO Megan Baker.
ICR releases a report that says the SPAC IPO market has been trending upward—and is likely to stay on that track... Washington Women in PR is sponsoring an April 15 event that looks at how women can change the dynamics that often keep them in lower-visibility positions through strategic self-advocacy and organizational awareness... Life Science Cares Boston, an organization supported by LaVoieHeathScience, will convene leaders, employees and partners from across the life sciences industry for its annual Impact Breakfast on April 13 at the Omni Boston Hotel at the Seaport.
Bell Yard Communications and Kysen PR, London-based firms that focus on legal market and litigation PR, are merging. The combined firm will operate as Bell Yard Kysen Communications... FINN Partners launches Travel with Tastemakers, a global report that looks at more than 25 destinations through the eyes of the creatives who shape them... Baker Public Relations, a woman-owned agency based in Albany with offices in Pittsburgh, PA and St. Petersburg, FL, rebrands as The Baker Agency. 
ChangeMakers, an independent shop with 400 professionals across Canada and the U.S., is merging with The Creative Dept., which advises innovative and culture-shaping companies on brand strategy and creative direction... Full Court Press Communications, a Bay Area-based strategic communications firm, celebrates its 25th anniversary... R&J Strategic Communications marks its 40th anniversary by launching its Moments That Made a Difference campaign.
