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| Frank van de Koppel |
Hotwire appoints Frank van de Koppel as strategy creative director to helm its newly launched pan-European digital creative team, which will serve clients with campaigns fusing creativity, marketing and PR. Van de Koppel has led and developed digital marketing, social media and influencer campaigns for such brands as Netflix, Vodafone, BMW, Volkswagen and Porsche. Based in Amsterdam, he will partner with Hotwire’s teams in the US, UK and APAC on global programs in addition to leading the cross-functional team in Europe. “The Netherlands is one of the best countries for global technology giants to set up in Europe and having a dedicated presence here will support our ambitious growth plans across Europe and serve our clients in the markets they operate in,” said Hotwire CEO of continental Europe Ute Hildebrandt.
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| Erika Bellido-Jin |
Signal Group, a DC-based public affairs firm that became fully independent in March, hires Erika Bellido-Jin as VP of operations. Bellido-Jin joins the firm from Sullivan, where she served as director of business operations. Before that, she was director, revenue operations at Gallery Media Group. “Her role includes streamlining our operational efficiency and making investments in our people to reflect a modern approach to public affairs,” said Signal Group president Chelsea Koski. Signal has also promoted Madeleine Russak, who oversees communications strategy for a broad portfolio of Tribal, healthcare and veterans’ affairs clients to SVP and Jackson Parker, who supports several clients in renewable energy, international relations, veterans’ affairs, to senior associate.
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| Jayne O'Connor |
Taft Communications promotes Jayne O’Connor to senior vice president and Meghan Bianco and Nicole Kirgan to director in its sustainability practice. Since joining Taft in 2015, O’Connor has overseen the practice, most notably with ReThink Energy NJ, which seeks to advance clean energy policies within the state. She previously worked as press secretary for New Jersey governor Christie Todd Whitman and held corporate communications roles at Bristol Myers Squibb and Capital Health. Bianco, who has most recently served as director of media relations, provides guidance and execution on media strategy for accounts including Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind and PosiGen. Kirgan, who joined the firm in 2022, serves as director of policy and communications, a new position at Taft created to focus on the intersection between the two disciplines. She previously served seven years in state government at the New Jersey Department of Health and the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education. “Jayne, Meghan, and Nicole each bring a unique skillset that enhances our ability to deliver on our clients’ strategic communications goals through meaningful campaigns that create impact,” said Taft chief client officer Lindsey Pascarella.
Dezenhall Resources brings on Jessica DeLoach as VP. DeLoach was previously deputy director of public and media relations at the Southern Poverty Law Center... Crowe Media hires Alissa Kasawdish as senior integrated PR manager. Kasawdish was previously an account supervisor at J/PR... Benefitbay, a SaaS platform that lets users make their own benefit decisions, names Lindsey Unterberger as VP of marketing.
Catherine Sullivan, global chief communications officer at Burson, has exited the WPP unit after a 12-year run.
Six Flags Entertainment Corporation hires Amy Martin Ziegenfuss as CMO, effective June 3. Ziegenfuss was most recently CMO at Carnival Cruise Line... Narrative Strategies brings on Hanna Beckman and Rich Casale as senior directors... Grayling has appointed Maury Postal as EVP, creative strategy and innovation services... HMH (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt), an educational publisher and technology company focused on K–12 education, assessments and professional learning, names Jessica Naeve CMO.
Brunswick Group has announced that Teneo's Christian Buss and Netflix's Paul Shaw have joined the firm as partners in San Francisco.
4media group promotes chief operating officer Melissa Elsner to CEO, succeeding Ed Cyster... Seven Letter names Tanvi Purohit account director at its Seven Letter Labs unit... Moxie Strategies, which is marking its second anniversary, brings on Janice Laurente as EVP of public affairs.
