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| Cecile Cross-Plummer |
ESPN hires Cecile Cross-Plummer as VP, corporate communications. Cross-Plummer comes to ESPN from HBO, where she most recently served as VP, media relations, a role that was expanded two years ago to include oversight of HBO Sports communication efforts. At ESPN, she will lead the communications department’s efforts promoting the sports and pop culture website The Undefeated. She will also work to enhance outreach to multicultural audiences as part of ESPN’s audience expansion initiative. “Cecile’s talent, relationships, perspective and experience managing an iconic brand in the press instantly makes an already strong team that much better,” said Chris LaPlaca, ESPN senior vice president, corporate communications.
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| Suzy Cirulis |
Caleres footwear company names Suzy Cirulis senior VP customer marketing. Cirulis was most recently chief marketing officer at Crate and Barrel. Previously, she worked in customer relationship marketing with Gap Inc. and its Old Navy, Banana Republic and Gap Outlet brands. In her new position, Cirulis will lead customer marketing efforts across the entire Caleres portfolio, including customer relationship marketing, insights and analytics. “Suzy will be instrumental in creating deeper connections with our current customers and building brand connections with new ones,” said Caleres chief marketing officer Jennifer Olsen.
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| Abdul Wahid Ovaice |
Huge, IPG’s global experience agency hires Abdul Wahid Ovaice as global executive creative director for its Google account. Ovaice comes to the agency from health technology company Oura, where he served as executive creative director, overseeing all brand creative from digital, brand systems, packaging, and advertising, to in-app brand experiences. Before that, he was executive creative director at Facebook. At Huge, Ovaice will be responsible for overseeing all creative design and execution across the Google account, which spans across 10 of the agency’s 13 offices. “Abdul is a strategic craftsman with impeccable taste, who has worked side-by-side with the who’s who of Silicon Valley to build brands from fragile idea to household name,” said Huge chief design officer, North America David Clarke.
Ballard Partners names former Burson managing director Mike Waterman as MD. Waterman comes to Ballard from ROKK Solutions... The Herald Group brings on Trace Scruggs and Evan Lukaske as VPs... Travelier, which operates platforms for booking intercity transportation services via buses, trains and ferries in 124 countries, appoints Mario Gavira as CMO. 
Raffetto Herman Strategic Communications brings on Jessica Gail, who served as director of communications for Rep. Eric Swalwell, as senior media lead... Prime Therapeutics appoints Katie Payne as chief external affairs officer, a newly created role. She was previously a senior director at APCO... Thunderly promotes Jason Weaver to director of paid media. 
Ruder Finn hires Brent Mullins as SVP, talent and partnerships. Mullins joins the agency from 160over90, where he was VP, entertainment marketing... Allison Worldwide names Katie Huang Shin global president, technology, effective Nov. 14... Vasion, which provides serverless printing and AI-enabled automation, appoints Cindy White as CMO. 
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.
