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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.
Ballard Partners names former Burson managing director Mike Waterman as MD. Waterman comes to Ballard from ROKK Solutions... The Herald Group brings on Trace Scruggs and Evan Lukaske as VPs... Travelier, which operates platforms for booking intercity transportation services via buses, trains and ferries in 124 countries, appoints Mario Gavira as CMO. 
Raffetto Herman Strategic Communications brings on Jessica Gail, who served as director of communications for Rep. Eric Swalwell, as senior media lead... Prime Therapeutics appoints Katie Payne as chief external affairs officer, a newly created role. She was previously a senior director at APCO... Thunderly promotes Jason Weaver to director of paid media. 
Ruder Finn hires Brent Mullins as SVP, talent and partnerships. Mullins joins the agency from 160over90, where he was VP, entertainment marketing... Allison Worldwide names Katie Huang Shin global president, technology, effective Nov. 14... Vasion, which provides serverless printing and AI-enabled automation, appoints Cindy White as CMO. 
Mod Op brings on John Powers and Alan Kipust as part of its Executive in Residence program, which already includes former Dun & Bradstreet chief data officer Monica Richter... Takeda Pharmaceuticals hires James-Denton Wyllie as head of R&D and external innovation communications... Veeam Software, which specializes in data resilience solutions, appoints Allison Cerra as CMO.
The Dallas Mavericks bring on Gina Miller as chief communications officer, a newly created role. She was previously with Major League Soccer team FC Dallas... Americans for the Arts, a nonprofit organization that advances arts advocacy, names Jamey Lundblad as CMO... Ambac Financial Group, an insurance holding company, names Karen Beyer managing director, head of investor relations.
