 |
| Doug Thornell |
SKDK has named partner Doug Thornell successor to CEO Josh Isay, who will take on the senior counsel role at the end of the year.
The 46-year-old will become highest ranking Black executive at top PA/political consulting firm. SKDK has more than 200 staffers.
As CEO of the Stagwell unit, Thornell will handle day-to-day activities with partners Bill Knapp, Jill Zuckman, Mike Morey and Kerri Lyon.
Thornell joined SKDK a dozen years ago as senior VP in its PA practice. Most recently, he led its paid media and political practice.
Isay called Thornell “a brilliant communications professional who combines a deep understanding of our business with exceptional motivational and leadership skills.”
He said Thornell has been “an insightful and thoughtful adviser and confidante to me for over a decade.”
During his 20-year career, Thornell was lead media strategist to the Democratic National Committee, spokesman for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, adviser to both Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen and the Congressional Black Caucus and traveling spokesman for Governor Howard Dean’s 2004 presidential campaign.
Seven Letter hires Allie Raffa, who was most recently White House correspondent for NBC News, as a senior director... Points of Light, an organization founded by President George H.W. Bush that is dedicated to volunteer service, names Jeff Zanelli as CMO... Frontieras North America, an energy and environmental technology company, appoints Nora Shepard as VP of communications.
Alcoa has named Emily Olson, who has more than 20 years of experience working in capital-intensive industries in the Americas, Europe and Asia, EVP & chief external affairs officer, effective April 6.
Longacre Square Partners has named Humza Vanderman partner and head of its London outpost as the financial communications firm expands into Europe.
FGS Global adds former Pfizer EVP and chief corporate affairs officer Sally Susman to its global executive board as an independent member, effective April 1... Codeword brings on Kim Baffi, who was previously Salesforce VP and creative director, as executive creative director... Amperity, an AI-powered customer data cloud, appoints Bridget Perry as CMO.
MOIA America, a Volkswagen Group of America subsidiary that develops and tests autonomous, all-electric ride-pooling vehicles, names Marcus Gamo head of U.S. communications... Continental Strategy brings on Francisco Petrirena as VP in its Miami office. Petrirena was previously chief of staff to former Miami city manager Art Noriega... MSQ Sport + Entertainment brings on Lauren Weil as EVP, Max Hirsch as VP of sponsorship, and Brooke Losee as VP.
