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| Amy Keller Laird |
BPCM brings on Amy Keller Laird as managing director of beauty and wellness, and Melissa Wiggins as managing director of fashion. Laird most recently served as VP of global brand content and creative at WeightWatchers, and led brand and audience development at Remedy Health Media, overseeing eight digital health brands. Before that, she was editor-in-chief of Women’s Health and beauty director of Allure. Laird is also the founder of Mental at ClubMental.com, a digital editorial platform for women that blends mental health and lifestyle. Wiggins comes to BPCM from DLX, where she served as senior director. She has also been US consumer communications lead at Klarna and a senior PR specialist at Nordstrom. Both positions are based out of BPCM’s Dumbo, Brooklyn office. “We’re eager to bring these women’s dynamic experience and perspectives to our current clients and to grow both departments in new and exciting directions,” said BPCM co-founding partner Vanessa von Bismarck.
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| Dave Samson, Adam Cossman |
Highwire PR names Dave Samson and Adam Cossman to its board of directors to support the agency’s growth strategy, particularly in healthcare, digital, analytics and corporate communications. Samson was most recently Global Vice Chairman of Corporate Affairs and U.S. COO at Edelman. He will lend his extensive expertise on corporate communications strategy and C-level stakeholder engagement, while contributing to overall agency strategy. Cossman, who led the launch of Real Chemistry’s Health Technology business unit, will provide counsel on healthcare, analytics, digital and acquisition strategy for Highwire. “Dave and Adam are industry powerhouses who will bring impactful insights to us and our partners, further strengthening our position as a modern communications and marketing organization focused on impact,” said Highwire principal and co-founder Kathleen Gratehouse.
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| Jason Fink, R. Kurt Osenlund |
Mark Allen & Co. promotes SVP Jason Fink to EVP and ups R. Kurt Osenlund from creative director and account director to VP of client relations. Before coming to the agency, Fink was a VP at Butler Associates. Osenlund was previously a producer and creative director at PROSE. With his promotion to EVP, Fink will oversee editorial operations while continuing to manage key accounts at the agency. Osenlund will work closely with Fink, managing key accounts and providing counsel to all Mark Allen & Co. clients. The news follows the firm’s hiring of its first director of media relations, Julie Farin, who spent 13 years leading Brand Communications at PEOPLE Magazine. Additionally, Melanie Shaw, a former marketing associate at Estée Lauder Companies, joins the agency as an account supervisor.
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| Tory Newmyer |
Narrative Strategies hires Tory Newmyer as senior director. Newmyer joins the agency after seven years at the Washington Post, where he covered financial services, economic policy, and the intersection of business and politics. Before his time at the Post, Newmyer wrote for Fortune for seven years and also worked at Roll Call. “Tory’s decades of expertise will be invaluable to our clients as companies and industries increasingly find maintaining their license to operate requires navigating the complex environment at the intersection of business and politics,” said Narrative Strategies CEO and founding partner Ken Spain.
ICR names Sukanti Ghosh as partner, international strategy & markets. Ghosh was most recently president of global policy & communications at Vedanta Resources Limited, one of ICR’s largest international clients... August promotes Scott Deveau to senior managing director... Milk & Honey PR, a UK-based firm, brings on Mollie Starr as partner and head of Milk & Honey North America.
Wendy Carhart, who rose to the chief communications, culture & purpose post at Real Chemistry, has moved to the Learning Care Group.
Jeff Reczek, who most recently served as director of CDC Washington at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, is coming on board as a partner at bipartisan health care firm TDY @ FGS Global.
Narrative Strategies brings on Christina Cameron and Jessica Stallone as senior directors... CI&T, a global technology transformation specialist, appoints Sarah Painter as SVP, marketing for EMEA... Avenue Z promotes Annie Zeigler to associate director, based in the firm’s Los Angeles office.
Accenture promotes Rachel Frey to CCO, a newly created role at the company... AMD, a multinational semiconductor company, recruits Salesforce president and CMO Ariel Kelman to serve as its SVP and CMO... L.C. Williams & Associates, which is celebrating 40 years in business, brings Maria Balice back to the firm as EVP to lead its corporate affairs work.
