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| Rafe Needleman |
Allison+Partners hires Rafe Needleman as SVP and head of technology editorial. Needlman comes to the agency from Cisco, where he was an in-house communication strategist and content creator. He has also served as editor-in-chief of such publications as Red Herring Online, Byte, Yahoo Tech and CNET Reviews. Based in Allison+Partners’ San Francisco headquarters, Needleman will lead content ideation and creation for the agency’s portfolio of technology clients as well as working with the agency’s account teams to further hone their editorial best practices and writing skills. “He knows how to translate even the most complex technologies into stories that not only help drive a business forward but also truly hit home across audiences,” said Allison+Partners partner and president, global operations, technology Karyn Barr.
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| Tony Cortizas |
Unique Vacations, an affiliate of the worldwide representative of Sandals Resorts and Beaches Resorts, promotes Tony Cortizas to CMO. Cortizas was most recently SVP of brand development at the company. He was previously at Meliá Hotels International, where he served in positions including vp of global brand strategy. In his new position, Cortizas will direct research, creative and brand marketing for the hospitality brands under the UVI umbrella. “Tony’s body of award-winning work demonstrates his proven ability to engage audiences over time and across channels with rich storytelling and opportunities that foster lifelong relationships between brands and customers,” said UVI chief executive officer Jeff Clarke.
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| Mary Yang |
Syxsense brings on Mary Yang as CMO. Yang joins Syxsense from threat intelligence company LookingGlass Cyber Solutions, where she was also CMO. Before that she was a strategic advisor and portfolio manager at MITRE Corporation, a not-for-profit research and development organization. At Syxsense, Yang will oversee global marketing and communication efforts, reporting to company founder and CEO Ashley Leonard. “Mary has been at the forefront of marketing communications across the cybersecurity space for nearly a decade,” said Leonard.
Jeffrey Rosen, senior chair of the corporate department at legal firm Debevoise & Plimpton, joins FGS Global, where he will serve as senior advisor.
Whit Clay, who exited the Co-CEO slot at Sloane & Co. 18 months ago to head Longacre Square Partners’ New York office, has been promoted to serve as the first CEO of the financial communication shop.
Global Strategy Group names Claudio Taratuta as an EVP of the L@B, its in-house creative and media agency. Taratuta joins GSG from Praytell, where he was a founding team member... ROKK Solutions appoints Kris Havens as EVP of intel and insights. Havens was most recently a partner at Penta Group... Cliff House Maine brings on William Courtney Lowe as chief business development and brand strategist. Lowe joins Cliff House Maine from Chatham Bars Inn on Cape Cod, where he was VP of marketing & business development. 
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.
