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| Lawrence Lokman |
Santa Clara University appoints Lawrence Lokman as VP of marketing and communications, a newly created position, effective Jan. 17, 2023. Lokman comes to SCU from Penn State, where he served as VP for strategic communications. He previously led communications at UCLA as associate vice chancellor, university communications and public outreach. In his new post, Lokman will report directly to SCU president Julie Sullivan, with responsibility for all brand, marketing, public relations, social media, and stakeholder communications. “He’s a proven builder of highly effective teams and programs, and his impressive marketing and communications experience will elevate our work to engage others in our distinctively Jesuit, Catholic education,” said Sullivan.
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| Eric Rivera |
Manifest brings on Eric Rivera as account director. Rivera most recently held contract positions at Roku and Samsung, and he was previously senior manager, consumer communications and marketing at WeWork. Rivera will be responsible for leading the strategy and execution of Manifest’s largest accounts, bolstering its unified campaign offering and building new global processes to further unite Manifest’s five offices—New York, London, Stockholm, Manchester and Melbourne. Manifest managing partner for the US & Canada Jessica Becker said that Rivers’ “robust comms experience across both at agencies and in-house, coupled with his compassionate leadership style and undeniable charm, make him a trusted leader, expert and mentor to both clients and the team alike.”
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| Jeanne Russo |
Essential Utilities, which operates in 10 states under the Aqua and Peoples brands, names Jeanne Russo VP, communications. Russo most recently served as director of financial communications at Qurate Retail Group. She has also held senior communications positions with Commscope, ARRIS, Google, Motorola and Comcast. In her newly created role, Russo will oversee all internal and external communications across the enterprise. “Jeanne brings with her a wealth of communications experience, having worked on top global brands, and her talent and proven leadership will be crucial in elevating Essential, Aqua and Peoples to the communities we serve,” said Essential chairman and CEO Christopher H. Franklin.
Eitan Bencuya, who has more than 20 years of technology PR experience, has signed on with Brunswick Group as a partner in its San Francisco office.
DGA Group has lined up the former US ambassadors to Qatar and Saudi Arabia as senior advisors to help clients navigate that politically complex region.
Narrative Strategies names Adam Silverstein as managing director in New York. Silverstein was most recently head of media relations & thought leadership at Scient Public Relations... Mission North brings on Alex Hunter as EVP of health and innovation... Baird & Warner, a family-owned independent real estate services company that serves the Chicago area, appoints Jeanette Cutler as CMO.
Greg Honan, who worked in the Biden White House as director of message planning and chief of staff for its office of communications, is joining public affairs firm Seven Letter as a managing director.
David Bassity, who was VP for football communications for the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons, will join the Big Ten Conference on July 20.
