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| Christine Baratta |
Global Situation Room hires Christine Baratta as director of news and editorial content. Baratta joins GSR from Bloomberg, where she led the radio production of its broadcast political shows from Washington, DC. She was previously communications director at DC-based public affairs consulting firm Allegiance Strategies. In her new role, Baratta will oversee GSR’s current podcasts and the development of new shows. “Christine brings the kind of extraordinary experience that can turbocharge our work on high-quality podcasts,” said GSR founder and president Brett Bruen. “She brings the skills and knowledge to help grow a world-class team of journalists and communications professionals.”
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| Melanie Upton |
History Factory, which helps organizations leverage their history and heritage to enhance their strategy, brand positioning, marketing, and communications, brings on Melanie Upton as VP of business development. Upton was most recently director of business development at IT services and consulting company Randall Reilly. Her areas of expertise also include recruiting and risk management. At History Factory, she will support the agency’s long-term goals for scalability and innovation driven by the needs of its clients and the marketplace.
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| Sean Gleason |
CEC Entertainment, LLC, appoints Sean Gleason as CMO for its flagship brand, Chuck E. Cheese, and virtual kitchen brands, including Pasqually's Pizza & Wings. Most recently, Gleason ran his own consulting firm, which worked with public- and privately held food & beverage brands. Before that, he was CMO at Dave & Buster's; served as senior VP, strategic marketing communications for Dr Pepper Snapple Group; and was VP of marketing communications at Pizza Hut. In his new post, Gleason will lead all marketing functions, menu innovation, guest insights and communications, as well as the brand's digital marketing and consumer journey initiatives.
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| Annalyse Keller, Kris Fetterman |
Seven Letter promotes Annalyse Keller to managing director and Kris Fetterman to senior director. Before joining Seven Letter as a senior director in 2021, Keller served as communications director for Sen. Cory Gardner (R-CO) and Rep. Mike Bishop (R-MI). She currently co-hosts Seven Letter’s “Control” podcast alongside agency partner Brendan Buck. Fetterman, previously a director at Seven Letter, has worked as a writer for Melinda French Gates and her investment and incubation company, Pivotal Ventures and as speechwriter for U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT).
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.
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.
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.
BPCM brings on former Prada SVP marketing & communications Christian Langbein as its EVP of growth and strategy, a newly created role... MikeWorldWide names Joseph Sorrentino as its first chief intelligence officer. Sorrentino joins from Weber Shandwick, where he was EVP, analytics & intelligence... Pacers Sports & Entertainment, which operates the NBA’s Indiana Pacers and WNBA’s Indiana Fever, hires Kieran Donahue as EVP and CMO. Donahue has served as chief marketing officer at IHOP and VP, brand, marketing & digital for the Americas at Marriott... Ballast Rock Asset Management, a diversified alternative investment manager, appoints Michael Welch as head of investor relations and capital formation.
