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| Thomas Prather |
Smashburger, a fast-casual burger brand, names Thomas Prather as CMO. Prather comes to Smashburger from Starbucks, where he held a variety of positions, including VP, brand & product marketing. At Smashburger, he will be tasked with defining the company’s brand proposition, ensuring consistent brand expression, and establishing a solid foundation for growth. "We are confident that he will be an invaluable addition to our team," said Smashburger CEO Denise Nelsen. "Having previously worked alongside Thomas [at Starbucks], I know his consistency, attention to detail, and ability to stay current on emerging trends and consumer expectations will help us deliver on our commitment to exceeding guest expectations."
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| Irfan Khan |
XY Retail Inc, a provider of omnichannel retail solutions, names Irfan Khan as director of marketing. Khan most recently served at AVANA Companies, a financial services company, where he headed the marketing vertical for four of its business units. He has worked with fintech, SaaS, investment, and edtech companies in the US and Asia, including LendThrive, Uprise and CMR Group. In his new role, Khan will spearhead XY Retail's growth and marketing initiatives, reporting directly to CEO Susan Jeffers. “Irfan has a consistent record of delivering high-impact marketing campaigns and fostering high-performing teams. His leadership will be crucial as we scale our product offerings and expand our reach across new regions within the retail technology landscape," said Jeffers.
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| Allison Giorgio |
Wellness Pet Company hires Allison Giorgio as CMO. Giorgio joins the company from PUMA North America, where she most recently served as VP, marketing, leading a team of more than 60 across all marketing and communication departments. She previously held senior marketing positions at Boston Ski & Sports Club, Sudbury Health and Fitness Connection, and Annie's Homegrown. At Wellness Pet, she joins the senior leadership team to propel brand strategy and creative marketing, further defining the company's voice and building consumer awareness to drive growth. "Allison brings deep integrated marketing capabilities and expertise to strengthen our current connections and relevancy with pet parents. We are eager to welcome her onto our senior leadership team to lead brand storytelling and consumer experiences that showcase our purpose-led operations," said Wellness Pet CEO Reed Howlett.
The Next Solutions Group names Michelle Agnew as VP, reputation and issues management. Agnew joins NSG from The Coca-Cola Company, where she was director of strategic communications... Nebius, which works with startups and enterprises building AI products, agents and services, appoints Lindsey Irvine as CMO... Zeta Global, an intelligent AI infrastructure company, names Leah Pope CMO and Candace Dean chief communications officer.
SiriusXM recruits Paramount Pictures EVP, global communications Jenny Tartikoff to serve as SVP and head of communications, effective August 10.
West of Fairfax, which is in Los Angeles, appoints Scott Mallone as president. Mallone joins the agency from SHFT Labs... Codeword ups Brandon Carter to SVP, head of strategy... JOTO PR Disruptors names Nick Westcott head of establishment, working to improve coordination across departments, and helping each part of the agency operate with greater clarity, consistency and readiness for scale. 
Sotheby’s brings on Christie’s global head of communications Natasha Le Bel to serve as chief communications officer.
The U.S. Green Building Council, developer of the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) rating system, names David Purcell CMO, leading the organization’s marketing and communications... Capital V Strategies, a strategic communications and advisory firm, names Andy Dueñas to lead its newly launched Transactions & IPO Communications division... Haven Tower Group, which works with clients in the wealth management space, appoints Stephen Langlois to its board of advisors. Langlois is currently managing principal of Seaport Consulting Partners. 
