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| Bryan Lesswing |
Bryan Lesswing, senior advisor to New York Governor Kathy Hochul, has joined Stagwell’s SKDK unit’s public affairs practice unit as SVP to work on corporate, crisis and advocacy clients.
Lesswing has provided strategic communications counsel to Hochul since 2019.
He handled her transition from lieutenant governor to succeed Andrew Cuomo in the top job, response to the COVID-19 pandemic and supported her run to become the first elected woman to lead the Empire State.
Marissa Shorenstein, principal at SKDK and director of Hochul’s transition team, said she “witnessed firsthand the exceptional leadership and dedication Bryan brings to any challenge.”
CEO Doug Thornell said Lesswing’s “experience at the highest levels of state government and expertise in communications, politics and advocacy makes him a perfect fit for SKDK and our clients.”
Prior to joining Team Hochul, Lesswing served as communications director for Sen. Tammy Baldwin’s (D-WI) re-election campaign, worked as director of campaign communications at EMILY’s List, and was communications director for Maryland’s Democratic Party.
Actum has hired Cecelia Prewett, who was president of DC Public Affairs at SKDK during a nearly 13-year run, as senior managing director in its Washington office.
Franz Paasche, who was most recently EVP for public affairs and communications at Columbia University, will join Verizon as EVP, corporate affairs, effective Nov. 10.
Horizon Family Brands, which includes Horizon Organic and Wallaby Organic yogurt, hires Andrew Springate as CMO... Wake Tech, a Raleigh, NC community college that serves over 70000 adults annually, brings on Lisa Marie Ferrell, who previously led North America communications at Lenovo, as VP of communications and marketing... Golin brings on executive creative director Meg Farquhar in Chicago, and EVPs of strategy Tom Howells (Western Region) and Martin Coomber (New York).
Hotwire Global appoints Burson global chief digital & intelligence officer Grant Toups as global CEO, effective in January.
Bader Rutter, which works with clients in the agriculture, food, beverage and pet care sectors, appoints Demar Anderson as CMO... Acceleration Community of Companies appoints Michael Moschella to lead its new insights division, ACC Intelligence... Luminate, a London-based shop focused on infrastructure and energy sectors, hires Osman Dervish as director—head of development... The Alpine Group promotes Alison Graab to principal from SVP.
