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| Cortney Stapleton |
The Bliss Group names Cortney Stapleton CEO. Stapleton has been with the firm since 2003, serving as managing partner since 2021. A founder of The Next Practices Group as well as chairwoman of NextTech Communications, Stapleton has played a key role in building the professional, business and financial services practices of the firm, As CEO, she will prepare the firm for a sustainable growth path led by new practice development and the integration of data science and analytics throughout the firm’s offering. “She is known for her tremendous focus on client excellence, which is driving our growth of current and future practices and our desire to innovate,” Bob Pearson, chair of The Bliss Group and The Next Practices Group.
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| Libbey Baumgarten, Ilana Dvir |
JBC is promoting Libbey Baumgarten to head of growth and Ilana Dvir to head of strategy. Baumgarten was previously an executive vp at the firm, building its social impact division and handling such brands as BetterUp, theSkimm, Female Founders Fund and Tia. In her new post, she will oversee the expansion of JBC’s services, including affiliate marketing, executive speaking, crisis communications, partnerships, and media training. Dvir was previously a senior vp, and has led the agency’s lifestyle division as well as launching its food & beverage capability and expanding its home & design division. As head of Strategy, she will focus on new business development and oversee strategic ideation for the agency’s roster. “Ilana and Libbey have helped to usher in every stage in JBC’s nearly decade-long history, and will no doubt continue to spearhead the next chapter in our agency,” said JBC founder Jennifer Meyer.
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| Zara Mirza |
TIAA, a provider of retirement services, names Zara Mirza chief brand officer, effective March 6. Mirza joins the company from GE, where she also served as chief brand officer. Prior to GE, she was global head of creative excellence at Bacardi. In her new position, Mirza will lead the brand strategy, brand marketing, creative and corporate social responsibility teams for TIAA and Nuveen, the asset manager that is a wholly owned subsidiary of the company. "Zara brings extensive experience transforming how brands go to market and will continue to elevate TIAA so that more institutional partners and new generations of consumers embrace the power of securing lifetime income," said TIAA chief marketing and communications officer Micky Onvural.
Clean Tomorrow, which promotes policies aimed at furthering the growth and innovation of clean energy, names Jordan Gallagher as chief operations officer... LaForce promotes Shauna Solum to EVP, a newly created, cross-agency role... Ubisoft, a gaming company, names Valentine Piedelievre-Eman as chief communications officer, effective Feb. 2. 
Jonathan Heppner, deputy communications director for New York State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, has joined SKDK as senior VP.
Joshua Baca, an alum of the American Chemistry Council and American Beverage Assn., joins FTI Consulting's PR segment.
Morgan & Morgan, a personal injury law firm, names Andrew Pagonis VP of marketing. Pagonis joins the firm from Google... Red Banyan, a firm specializing in reputation management, promotes James De Marco to director of strategic communications... ASC Advisors ups Keely Gispan to partner and promotes Max Rayden to managing director... Drumfire Public Affairs, a boutique D.C.-based public affairs firm celebrating its 10-year anniversary, promotes Maureen Vogel to senior director of digital media... Dreamday, a PR and affiliate performance firm, brings on Samara Cooper Hillman as VP.
Corporate PR pro Mayra Hernandez Bergman has signed on as a senior advisor at August, strategic communications shop.
