Blake Androff
Blake Androff

Signal Group names managing director Blake Androff as the firm’s chair, public affairs. Before coming to Signal Group in 2019, Androff served as executive director of the U.S. House Democratic Policy & Communications Committee and director of communications at the Department of the Interior. “Blake’s integral role in expanding Signal’s public affairs offerings and delivering countless successful outcomes for clients is invaluable,” said Chelsea Koski, the chair of Signal’s communications practice and a member of the Management Committee. “This new title will further reinforce Signal’s dedication to integrated solutions in a fast-changing public affairs landscape.” The agency has also promoted senior manager Kathleen Van De Wille to VP.

Katie Harrison
Katie Harrison

Manifest Melbourne brings on Meta senior creative Katie Harrison as the group’s deputy creative director. Harrison was a part of Meta’s in-house creative unit, Creative X. She was previously at Wieden+Kennedy. Harrison will join Manifest’s creative team, which includes studios in London, Manchester, Stockholm, New York and Melbourne. “Katie is one of the most talented creatives I’ve ever worked with. She’s an amazing writer with strategic acumen,” said Manifest global executive creative director Kostas Karanikolas

Kara van Stralen
Kara van Stralen

Cornerstone Government Affairs adds Kara van Stralen, most recently director of policy and research for Colorado Governor Jared Polis, to the agency’s Colorado team. Van Stralen, whose extensive Capitol Hill experience also includes stints as chief of staff to Rep. Mike Levin (D-CA) and senior policy advisor to Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-NH), will focus on state matters in Colorado and also work at the federal level on behalf of a number of clients. Cornerstone has also hired Jeremy Payne, most recently executive director of Maine Renewable Energy Association, as a principal in its Maine office, and Rachel Farmer, most recently vice president of external affairs at UnitedHealth Group in Louisiana, joins the team in Baton Rouge.

Christopher Hansen
Christopher Hansen

Power Digital, a San Diego-based growth marketing firm, appoints Christopher Hansen as chief client officer. Hansen most recently served as senior vice president at 3Pillar Global after working as senior vp at Zeta Global. Prior to that, he operated as chief operating officer at IgnitionOne, president at Netmining, senior vice president at 360i, and director at 24/7 Real Media. “Chris’s experience in technology-led marketing is unmatched,” said Power Digital president Jeff Mason, president at Power Digital.