On the Move: Makovsky Names Fink President

Catherine Fink

Makovsky names Catherine Fink president. She succeeds agency founder Ken Makovsky, who is now chairman and CEO. Fink joins Makovsky from Porter Novelli, where she was an executive VP, overseeing the agency’s Johnson & Johnson and Boerhinger Ingelheim accounts. She has also served as a senior vp at Feinstein Kean Healthcare and has worked at GCI Health and Sudler Hennessey. Leveraging her experience in such areas as sustainability and DE&I, Fink will focus on Makovsky’s business development efforts and advise on key client initiatives. “Cathy is a dynamic leader with global cross-functional expertise, and her experiences as an entrepreneur as well as in the big agency world make her an ideal partner for all practice areas here at Makovsky,” Ken Makovsky said.

Laura Kim

Participant promotes Laura Kim to executive VP of marketing at the film production company. Kim was previously senior vice president in film marketing at the company. Before joining Participant, she was principal and founder of Inside Job, a motion picture marketing, public relations and distribution consulting firm, and an executive VP at Warner Independent Pictures. In her new post, Kim will take on expanded duties in independent and international film and series projects at the studio. “Her strategic thinking, great devotion to mentorship and genuine passion for impact and the issues match Participant’s core values,” said Participant worldwide marketing president Christina Kounelias.

Rebecca Elliott

Whitestone REIT, a commercial real estate company, hires Rebecca Elliott as VP, corporate communications. Elliott has served as head of communications for Shell Oil Company’s projects & technology business in the Americas, director of global corporate and investor communications at TETRA Technologies and vice president at Hill + Knowlton. At Whitestone, she will oversee corporate communications and investor relations. “Rebecca brings to Whitestone a wealth of experience in planning and executing communications and investor relations strategies, while always focusing on continuous improvement that contributes to corporate positioning, stakeholder relationships and shareholder value,” said Whitestone chairman and CEO Jim Mastandrea.

Elise James-DeCruise

The Ad Council appoints Elise James-DeCruise as its first chief equity officer. James-DeCruise comes to The Ad Council from Cleveland-based independent marketing communications agency Marcus Thomas, where she was chief diversity and inclusion officer at Marcus Thomas. She was previously vice president, global head of multicultural marketing and inclusion at MediaMath. In her new post, James-DeCruise will initiate, advocate for and evaluate programs and practices to foster a more diverse and inclusive environment, including overseeing and evolving the organization’s existing commitments to racial justice.