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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.”
Wendy Carhart, who rose to the chief communications, culture & purpose post at Real Chemistry, has moved to the Learning Care Group.
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.
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.
