 |
| Isabel Guzman |
Global Situation Room tabs Isabel Guzman to serve as chair of its Global Risk Advisory Council. Guzman is chair and founder of consulting firm Avenida Advisors. She was previously administrator of the US Small Business Administration, and she also headed the California Office of the Small Business Advocate. GSR’s Global Risk Advisory Council is made up of more than 100 public affairs professionals. It will produce a quarterly Reputation Risk Index, which will help enhance executives’ ability to track and analyze emerging threats. “Isabel is a truly transformational business leader,” said GSR President Brett Bruen. “Her work helping America’s small businesses achieve exceptional growth, despite unprecedented upheaval and uncertainty, deservedly won praise from both parties.”
 |
| Joel Yashinsky |
Burger King recruits Applebee’s CMO Joel Yashinsky to serve as its chief marketing officer for the US and Canada. Before joining Applebee’s in 2018, Yashinsky was VP, brand content & engagement at McDonald’s. At Burger King, he will charged with advancing the chaing “Reclaim the Flame” marketing strategy, which was instituted in 2022. He replaces Pat O'Toole, who resigned in November 2024. “Joel joins us at an exciting time for the brand, and brings the ideal mix of strategic marketing experience, brand-building creativity, and leadership expertise to help fuel our next chapter,” said Burger King US and Canada president Tom Curtis.
 |
| Victoria Dillon |
Auburn University’s McCrary Institute for Cyber and Critical Infrastructure Security brings on Victoria Dillon as deputy director and chief communications officer. Dillon was most recently assistant national cyber director for public affairs in the Biden administration’s Office of the National Cyber Director. She has also held senior communications posts at Cisco and Amazon Web Services. In her new post, Dillon oversees McCrary’s multiple media platforms and leads the institute’s communications and media strategy. “She understands the issues that matter and has a track record communicating them with clarity and passion,” said McCrary Institute director Frank Cilluffo.
Sarah Knakmuhs, who formerly led H/Advisors Abernathy’s DC office, is joining the Financial Services Forum as chief communications and strategy officer.
Brian Hughes, chief of staff at NASA, has joined Mercury Public Affairs as a partner in its Tallahassee office.
Narrative Strategies brings on Stacia Tipton as managing director... Prosek Partners promotes Deirdre Bolton, Josh Clarkson and Jon Schwartz to partner... YAP Global, an international digital assets PR firm, promotes Otto Jacobsson, who has served as CFO of the firm since 2020, to CEO. 
Cindy Leggett-Flynn, who most recently led communications at Credit Suisse, is coming on board at Swiss multinational private bank and wealth management firm Julius Baer Group as group head of communications.
The Pollack Group brings on John Cheng as creative director and Daniel Chou as director of digital strategy... Baretz+Brunelle, an advisory firm that works with legal industry businesses, brings on Daniel Gilfarb, as a senior managing director in its talent practice.... Prophet names Mat Zucker, who has served as interim CMO for the past two years, to the full-time CMO position.
