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| Sheila Cort |
Taft Communications promotes Sheila Cort to senior director and focus area lead for Taft’s work in diversity, equity and inclusion communications. Since joining the firm full-time in 2016, Cort has managed or co-managed several key clients and played a key role in Taft ClearPoint, the firm’s leadership communications practice. Before coming to Taft, she was VP, corporate communications at Jackson Hewitt. “Taft clients deeply value her talent in leadership communications as she deftly helps leaders more effectively articulate their purpose and share how they are creating a positive impact on their organizations, and the world as a whole,” said Taft CEO Ted Deutsch.
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| Meredith Topalanchik G&S Business Communications |
G&S Business Communications appoints Meredith Topalanchik as managing director of its New York office, effective June 1. Current New York MD Anne Green will assume the agency-wide role of principal and managing director, business consulting. Topalanchik was previously a senior vice president at the firm. She was previously an executive vice president at CooperKatz & Company, which was acquired by G&S in 2018. In her new post, she will be responsible for the Manhattan office’s operations, growth and talent development. "Meredith brings a clear set of proven strengths and experience to the NY MD role. This, coupled with her strong relationships with staff, will be vital as we enter our hybrid return-to-office model,” said G&S president and CEO Luke Lambert.
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| Claire Dailey |
FLM Harvest hires Claire Dailey as VP-PR, leading the agency’s growing team of PR professionals while also serving as the senior PR strategist for clients. Dailey most recently served as PR account director at Periscope, and previously held PR leadership roles with Broadhead and Bader Rutter. In her new post, she will draw on her agribusiness subject matter expertise to support clients across the agriculture, food and rural lifestyle markets. “She not only has a deep grounding in PR, but she’s spent her career serving clients in our sweet spot of agriculture and food marketing and has a style that makes her a natural leader for our team as well as clients,” said FLM Harvest president and CEO Laurie Fleck.
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| Karina Vangani |
Arch Street Communications promotes Karina Vangani to director of civic planning, a new position at the firm. Vangani was previously a senior account executive, working with such clients as the Federal Highway Administration's Public Roads magazine, New York State Department of Transportation's Statewide Transportation Plan and the Battery Park City Authority's coastal resiliency project. "Karina's expertise, knowledge and commitment provide extraordinary value to our clients and internal team," said agency founder and CEO Nora Madonick.
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).
