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| Stuart Aitken |
Circana, an advisor on issues surrounding consumer behavior, names Kroger chief merchant and marketing officer Stuart Aitken as its president and CEO, effective Jan. 1, 2025. At Kroger, Aitken worked to increase the company’s focus on people and culture, data and insights, and shopper transformation. He has also served as CEO of 84.51°, Kroger’s data analytics arm, and its predecessor, dunnhumby USA. Aitken will succeed Kirk Perry, who has decided to retire from his role as Circana president and CEO and will continue to serve as a member of the company’s board of directors. “His passionate leadership, strategic and innovative mindset, and extensive experience across the retail, technology, and data/analytics industries will create value for our company, our people, and the clients we serve globally,” said chair of the Circana board Tod Johnson.
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| Sarah Mary Cunningham |
Align PR, an entertainment-focused firm that works with such clients as Matthew McConaughey, Madonna and Selena Gomez, adds Sarah Mary Cunningham to its New York-based team. Cunningham joins the agency from Columbia Records, where she had been VP of publicity since 2014, working with artists including Rosalia, Orville Peck and Quentin Tarantino. Before that, she was a VP at The Chamber Group, and held roles at Susan Blond Inc. and Rubenstein Associates. “Her reputation within the industry, as well as her nearly two decades of experience across so many aspects of the business, is a pivotal factor for new business development and the continued growth of align PR’s staff, as well as our client roster,” said company principal Nicole Perez-Kreuger. Align PR also has offices in Los Angeles, Miami and London.
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| Derek Coté |
Formation PR + Brand names Derek Coté creative director. Coté most recently served as director at Tungsten Branding, a brand name development agency. He was previously founder and creative director at Punqtive Creative and taught at both Wayne State University and Watkins College of Art, Design & Film. At Formation, Coté will lead the agency’s creative direction and be involved in all aspects of the creative and design process, from initial discovery and strategy to design execution. Formation CEO and founder Erica Allison said the Coté will be “instrumental in leading the agency’s next phase of growth.”
Target appoints Mark Weinstein as chief marketing and guest experience officer... Deerfield Group, which works with pharmaceutical, biotechnology, health tech and consumer health companies, appoints Brian Rocks as CFO and Shelby Rauen as head of strategy... Hailstone Strategies, a PR and strategic communications firm for labor unions and workers’ rights organizations, hires LaToya Smith and Andrew Baker as VPs.
Precision Strategies has recruited DGA Group Americas head Adam Cubbage as CEO of the Washington-based firm.
John Flannery, who has more than two decades of
Christine Lewis, who was most recently SVP at Inkhouse, moves to Tier One Partners, where she will be SVP, managing director. 
Dezenhall Resources, a DC-based crisis management and public affairs firm names Jennifer Condon as SVP. Condon joins the firm from America250, the congressionally authorized organization overseeing the United States’ 250th-anniversary commemoration... Thunderly brings on Carlos Cortinas as chief strategy officer, a newly created position... Reputation Advisors International, a global network of senior communications professionals with members in 18 cities across 14 countries, brings on Thiago Vitale, CEO of Brazilian firm TORRE Comunicação e Estratégia, as its newest member. 
