 |
| Melissa Waters |
Upwork, a platform that connects businesses with freelancers, independent talent and agencies, hires Melissa Waters as chief marketing officer. Waters was most recently global vice president of marketing at Instagram. She left the company in December. Waters previously served as CMO at hims & hers and vice president, marketing at Lyft. “Melissa’s deep expertise in helping high-growth companies scale, establish new categories, and build world-class brands is key to increasing awareness of Upwork,” said Upwork president and CEO Hayden Brown.
 |
| Becky Rawlings |
Hill+Knowlton Strategies hires Becky Rawlings as director, financial + professional services in London, reporting to managing director Nick Clark. Rawlings was previously a director at integrated comms agency Smarts, where she developed strategic and creative campaigns to drive consumer awareness and behavior change. Her background spans earned media, digital, content and publishing and influencer marketing. “Clients need integrated strategy and ideas to help them with customer acquisition and to radically change their content and publishing strategies. Becky’s perspective will be invaluable in how we respond to those challenges,” said Clark.
 |
J Strategies brings on Carly Andersen, Tess Morrissey and Gabriel Torres to assume vice president posts. Andersen, who will be vice president, brand & media communications, has worked with domestic and international food, beverage, CPG and lifestyle clients. She has cultivated media relationships, executed press events and built influencer campaigns. Morrissey will be vice president, policy & strategic affairs. She joins J Strategies from the University at Buffalo, where she was director of community relations and deputy director of state relations. Torres, who will be vice president, community outreach, most recently worked in the office of Congressmember Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY) as director of special projects and policy.
 |
The Prostate Cancer Foundation names Digital Science Press founder and CEO Gina Carithers chief communications officer. Carithers’ appointment comes as PCF acquires DSP, the digital publisher of UroToday.com and a provider of evidence-based clinical content and educational resources within the fields of urology and genitourinary oncology. Carithers will remain CEO of both DSP and UroToday. She will also work to expand PCF’s reach to such areas of the prostate cancer community as research, education, communication and patient support. “Gina’s executive leadership credentials and record of success will strongly support PCF’s ability to address our mission more broadly,” said PCF President and CEO Charles J. Ryan.
maslansky + partners, a specialist consultancy within Omnicom Public Relations, names founding partner Keith Yazmir president of the firm... The National Football League Players Association names Matt Taylor chief communications officer, effective Sept. 8... Repay Holdings Corporation, a provider of bill payment solutions, appoints Charles Nabhan as head of investor relations.
Bospar hires veteran technology, cybersecurity and healthcare sector journalist and content creator Doug Olenick as tech and healthcare content director... The Huntington National Bank appoints Ameesh Vakharia as EVP and chief marketing and digital products officer, a newly created role... SDA International, a Honolulu-based strategic communications firm, promotes Cassie Kim to SVP. 
Burson Brussels chief client officer Ruud Wassen has moved to Consello to open its outpost in the headquarters city of NATO and the European Union.
Reputation Advisors International adds Newick Consulting founder Peter Thomas as its newest member. Based in Abu Dhabi, Thomas has more than 35 years of experience advising major global clients on reputation issues... TruePoint appoints April Steinbach, who has held senior creative posts at BBDO and McCann Worldgroup, as creative director....Athene, a subsidiary of Apollo Global Management that focuses on retirement solutions, names Brett Gibson EVP and head of investor relations. Gibson comes to Athene from JP Morgan Securities.
Stellantis names Stephanie Hartgrove chief communications officer. Hartgrove joins Stellantis from Johnson & Johnson, where she was global vice president of MedTech communications and public affairs... FINN Partners appoints Kim Sizemore as head of integrated media. Sizemore joins FINN from Wieden+Kennedy... Lucid Group, which makes software-defined vehicles and technologies, names Angela Zepeda as Vice President, Global Marketing. Zepeda was most recently global head of marketing at Elon Musk's xAI. 
