 |
| David Landis |
David Landis, founder and president of Landis Communications Inc., announced that he plans to step down at the San Francisco-based agency.
His retirement becomes effective October 1.
General manager Sean Dowdall has been appointed to succeed Landis in the president role.
Landis, who founded the agency in 1990, told O’Dwyer’s that his shop, which was responsible for launching Old Navy, making Match.com a household name and helping save the iconic redwoods of California through the agency’s longstanding client, Save The Redwoods League, “exceeded all expectations.”
Landis said he plans to continue penning his food/restaurant column for the San Francisco Bay Times and will also interview symphony, opera, jazz and Broadway stars for the Amateur Music Network.
“What could be better?” Landis said.
Landis, which is one of the last independent communications agencies in San Francisco and specializes in consumer technology, B2B, healthcare, corporate and institutional PR, accounted for more than $2.1 million in net fees in 2020, according to O’Dwyer’s rankings of PR firms.
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).
