On the Move: 42West Adds Stagaard, Stewart

Meg Stagaard, Andrew Stewart

42West brings on Meg Stagaard and Andrew Stewart as VPs in the firm's strategic communications division. Stagaard was most recently a senior account director at DiGennaro Communications, working with such clients as Pinterest, TikTok and Spotify. She has also worked at Porter Novelli and Rubenstein Communications. Stewart joins 42West from Participant, where was director, communications. He was previously manager, corporate communications at IMAX and was a reporter at Variety. Stagaard and Stewart’s responsibilities will include providing strategic counsel to campaigns, crisis communications, executive counsel and positioning, brand awareness and media relations. “Meg and Andrew each bring their finely-tuned expertise across a growing and evolving industry landscape, with deep media relationships, great passion and their own brand of entrepreneurial enthusiasm to our growing team and division,” said Susie Arons, president of 42West’s strategic communications unit.

Laura Michael

Metro Public Relations promotes current partner, president & COO Laura Michael to CEO. As CEO, Michael will continue to be a driving force behind the company’s growth and expansion, oversee Metro’s leadership team, and offer strategic counsel for clients. She will continue to work closely with agency founder Tess Finkle, whose primary focus will be on business development and partnerships, as well as broadening the agency’s services through its creative marketing and content strategy arm. Among other recent hires to Metro’s executive team are Disney veteran Laura Jalaie, who comes on as SVP, strategy & communications, and Bree Jones, who joins the firm as VP of consumer communications & culture.

Brooks Wallace

Blockchain.com names Brooks Wallace head of communications. Wallace was most recently vice president at Kickstand Communications. She was previously west coast PR lead at Hollywood Agency, establishing the agency’s west coast practice. Wallace has also worked at RF|Binder and serves on the PRSA San Francisco Bay Area chapter's Board of Directors. She has helped lead communications programs for clients including Bank of America, Dunkin’ Donuts, Staples, Google and Coinbase.