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| Valarie De La Garza |
Fenton Communications names Valarie De La Garza CEO. She is both the first woman and first person of color to lead the organization. She has been with Fenton since 2016, most recently serving as the managing director of the agency’s west coast offices. Before joining Fenton, De La Garza led communications and marketing for the California Community Foundation, ran her own independent communications consultancy and was a vice president at The Rogers Group. In her new role, she will oversee Fenton’s four offices. “Valarie De La Garza’s ascension to CEO is the natural culmination of her many years of successful leadership of the firm. Her passion, judgment and communications acumen are unmatched — she truly embodies the best of Fenton,” said Fenton owner James Marcus.
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| Mike Hernández |
LSN Partners is bringing on Mike Hernández as partner, charged with leading the firm’s communications division. Hernández joins LSN from Mercury, where he had served as a senior vice president since 2018. He was previously director of communications and senior advisor to Miami-Dade County mayor Carlos Giménez, and has been a senior director at market research firm Penn Schoen Berland and Hispanic communications director for the Miami-Dade Democratic Party. “It is his commitment, work ethic, determination and experience that make Mike the right leader for our communications practice,” said LSN founder and co-managing partner Alex Heckler.
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| Bill Ogle |
Custodia Financial, a 401(k) loan protection program, appoints Bill Ogle as chief marketing officer. Ogle previously held CMO positions at Motorola, Sara Lee Corp., Samsung and Pizza Hut. He joins Custodia from Blue Harbor Capital Advisors, an M&A advisory firm, where he was senior managing partner. At Custodia, Ogle will oversee the company’s marketing and communications operations and play a critical role in supporting its growth strategy. "Bill has a proven track record of helping drive significant growth at some of the largest companies in the world. He has also built fast-growing technology companies as a CEO, which will allow him to refine and enhance our go-to-market strategies," said Custodia Financial CEO Tod A. Ruble.
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 70000 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).
Hotwire Global appoints Burson global chief digital & intelligence officer Grant Toups as global CEO, effective in January.
Bader Rutter, which works with clients in the agriculture, food, beverage and pet care sectors, appoints Demar Anderson as CMO... Acceleration Community of Companies appoints Michael Moschella to lead its new insights division, ACC Intelligence... Luminate, a London-based shop focused on infrastructure and energy sectors, hires Osman Dervish as director—head of development... The Alpine Group promotes Alison Graab to principal from SVP.
