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| Kirsten Plonner |
FleishmanHillard hires Kirsten Plonner as global managing director of financial and professional services, a newly created role. Plonner was most recently president at FiComm Partners. Before that, she was director of strategic media and communications for Fidelity Investments and a vice president at both FH and Weber Shandwick. In her new role, she will work with regional leaders who have built relationships and teams serving the agency's financial and professional services clients across the Americas, EMEA and Asia Pacific. "Kirsten's extensive experience in multiple segments of the financial services industry, combined with her work with media and as a strategist have equipped her with the skills needed to help our financial and professional services clients navigate the complexities of this moment," said FH global COO and president Americas J.J. Carter.
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| Betsen Philip |
Bluemercury, a luxury beauty product and retail spa chain, brings on Betsen Philip as VP of marketing. Philip comes to Bluemercury from Hilton, where he most recently served as senior director, global customer strategy and marketing. He previously held several executive marketing positions at Target, and began his career developing IT systems for NASA and John J. Kirlin Inc. before moving to consumer marketing. At Bluemercury, he will oversee brand and trade marketing, creative, public relations, and BlueRewards, the retailer’s loyalty program. “Betsen’s experiences in break-through customer strategy, brand development, and marketing efficiency and effectiveness make him a great fit to partner closely with our brand partners,” said Bluemercury CEO Maly Bernstein.
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| Knight Stivender |
MP&F Strategic Communications promotes Knight Stivender to partner. Stivender joined MP&F in 2018 as the firm’s first director of integrated marketing and data analytics. She previously held various editorial leadership roles at Gannett’s The Tennessean, and was named Gannett Innovator of the Year in 2012 for her development of a news and events product designed for millennials. Stivender joins managing partner Jennifer Brantley, David Fox, Katy Varney, Keith Miles and Mary Elizabeth Davis as a partner in the firm. “Her marketing and data expertise has proved invaluable to our clients and allowed us to build out our integrated marketing product,” said Brantley.
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| Emma Silverman, Toby Leston |
Good Relations names Emma Silverman SVP and Toby Leston associate director in the London-based firm’s New York office. Silverman joins the agency from Eleven Six PR where she was a VP, leading efforts for domestic and international travel, hospitality and lifestyle brands. She was previously an account supervisor at Lou Hammond & Associates. Leston was previously at London creative agency Tin Man, where he worked on a variety of high-profile consumer brands. “Between them they bring a wealth of experience and a proven track record delivering award winning creative campaigns,” said Good Relations CEO Richard Moss.
LaVoieHealthScience promotes Lisa DeScenza to president... Buffalo Groupe, which works with golf, hospitality and real estate brands, ups Glenn Gray to chief growth officer.... Marketbridge, a Bethesda, MD-based marketing consultant, names Mike Swartz chief growth officer and Ellie Ahmadi as SVP of global corporate marketing.
The Ladies Professional Golf Association names Chad Coleman CMO, effective Feb. 3. Coleman was most recently chief brand officer at YouTube channel Dude Perfect... Strategic Objectives promotes Sadie Tory and Saul Lewis to VP... Signal Group ups Scott Lusk and Jess McCarron to managing directors.
The Walt Disney Company names Asad Ayaz to lead its newly established enterprise marketing and brand organization... Kaiser Permanente, which provides integrated healthcare services, is bringing on Beth Leonard as SVP and chief public affairs officer, effective Feb. 2. Leonard was most recently chief corporate affairs officer at Walgreens Boots Alliance... AIC Hotel Group, which operates such brands as Nobu Hotels, Hard Rock Hotels, AVA Resort and Spa and the UNICO Collection, hires Delia Osegueda as VP, global partnerships.
Sarah Knakmuhs, who formerly led H/Advisors Abernathy’s DC office, is joining the Financial Services Forum as chief communications and strategy officer.
Brian Hughes, chief of staff at NASA, has joined Mercury Public Affairs as a partner in its Tallahassee office.
