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| Kayla Leska |
Development Counsellors International promotes Kayla Leska to VP of public relations in its tourism practice. Leska has been with the agency since 2015, most recently serving as managing director of public relations. In her new role, she will lead a team of nearly 20 communications professionals through the United States and Canada to implement destination public relations campaigns, while formalizing and expanding DCI’s public relations efforts to meet the needs of hotels, tour operators and cultural attractions. “Having worked with dozens of hotels and museums throughout her career, Kayla is the right leader to formally build out this service offering for DCI,” said Karyl Leigh Barnes, president of DCI’s tourism practice.
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| Ladan Ahmadi, Christine Rex |
Tiger Hill Partners hires Ladan Ahmadi as VP for government relations and public affairs, and Christine Rex as senior director for public affairs. Ahmadi was most recently deputy director of economic communications and health policy at think tank Third Way. Before that, she served as senior advisor and communications director for Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-NY). Rex previously led communications for the Institute for Political Innovation, and has also served as press secretary for then-Congresswoman Cynthia Lummis (R-WY).
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| Amy Gesenheus |
Activa PR, which specializes in working with tech companies, names Amy Gesenhues head of content. Gesenhues joins the firm from Oracle Advertising and Customer Experience, where she was a senior content strategist. Before that, she was a senior editor for Third Door Media, serving as lead writer for marketing technology, social media marketing, and digital ad platform coverage. In her new role, Gesenhues will lead Activa PR’s content marketing services. “Her career as a marketer and storyteller, combined with her days covering the marketing industry, puts her in a unique position to head up our content marketing practice,” said Activa PR principal and founder Marina Greenwood.
FTI Consulting appoints Jason Leow as a senior managing director in its strategic communications segment. He was vice chair and head of APAC at Edelman Smithfield... Ballard Partners is bringing on Tucker Knott, who currently serves as chief of staff to Sen. Ted Budd (R-NC), as a partner in DC.... TMRW Sports, a sports media company founded by Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy and former NBC Sports Group president, golf and global strategy Mike McCarley, names Peter Jung as CMO.
Ripley PR realigns its leadership team with the promotion of Anthony Cloud to managing director, B2C and franchising, and a new role for Grayson Shockley as managing director, B2B. Cloud, who joined Ripley PR in October 2020, has held multiple roles within the agency, including brand manager and content specialist... Walker Sands adds former Havas Digital global CEO and chairman George Gallate to its board of directors... Stewards, a diversified financial company based in Fort Lauderdale, FL, appoints Scott McGowan as CMO.
Kevin Lawlor, who most recently served as chief political officer and EVP at DDC Public Affairs, is coming on board at Zeno Group as head of public affairs.
Former Ketchum partner Esty Pujadas joins Grayling as CEO of its North America business, part of the agency’s expansion in the region.
Marketbridge brings on Bob Ray as CEO. Ray was previously CEO, head of B2B agency services at Merkle, part of the Dentsu Group... Rasky Partners promotes Andy Hoglund and Graham Shalgian to partner... IGB Group, an investor relations, capital markets, and strategic communications advisory firm, appoints Charlotte Burch as a managing director.
