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| Heather Wilson |
TrailRunner International names Heather Wilson a managing director in its Dallas-Fort Worth office. Wilson was previously a senior consultant for Silicon Valley communications firm Big Valley Marketing, leading strategic, financial and crisis communications for the firm’s cybersecurity and tech clients. She has also served as managing director and head of California for SKDK, headed Abernathy MacGregor’s San Francisco office and led corporate and crisis communications on the West Coast for Weber Shandwick. “Heather’s wealth of experience as a senior advisor to companies involved in major litigation, transactions, operational crises and other special situations deepens our strength in these areas as we continue to grow as a firm,” said TrailRunner International CEO Jim Hughes.
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| Jamie Simpson |
Praytell hires Jamie Simpson to lead its travel practice as SVP. Simpson joins Praytell from the Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board, where she served as vice president, global communications. She previously held senior positions at MWW, M Booth and Zimmerman Agency. In her new position, Simpson will foster Praytell’s growth in the travel sector through new business and implementation of strategic creative campaigns and initiatives for Praytell travel clients.
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| Will Clarke |
FleishmanHillard brings on Will Clarke as executive creative director and partner on the firm’s global creative and planning team. Clarke was most recently executive creative director and executive vice president at The Marketing Arm, overseeing a creative team across its Chicago, Dallas, New York and Los Angeles markets. He was previously executive creative director at Shoptology. Global executive creative director Kev O’Sullivan is moving from FH’s London office to Southern California, where he will serve as creative lead on one of the agency’s top clients. Joel Rodriguez has joined the agency as global executive creative director and partner, He was previously at McCann Worldgroup.
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.
Narrative Strategies brings on Stacia Tipton as managing director... Prosek Partners promotes Deirdre Bolton, Josh Clarkson and Jon Schwartz to partner... YAP Global, an international digital assets PR firm, promotes Otto Jacobsson, who has served as CFO of the firm since 2020, to CEO. 
Cindy Leggett-Flynn, who most recently led communications at Credit Suisse, is coming on board at Swiss multinational private bank and wealth management firm Julius Baer Group as group head of communications.
