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| Katharine Laidlaw |
Pomona College names Katharine Laidlaw as chief communications officer, effective May 12. Laidlaw most recently served as chief marketing & communications officer for the Spoleto Festival USA in Charleston, SC. She was previously VP for strategic communications and engagement at the Interlochen Center for the Arts and CMO at the UNC School of the Arts. As lead of Pomona College’s office of communications, her priorities will include aligning the college’s institutional voice and messaging, communications strategic planning and internal communications, as well as crisis and issues management. “She has the experience, creativity and vision to champion Pomona’s institutional voice,” said Pomona College acting president Robert Gaines.
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| Micah Aberson |
Lawrence & Schiller, a Sioux Falls, SD-based marketing firm, names Micah Aberson president and CEO. From 2003 to 2015, Aberson worked at L&S in a range of positions including VP of client service and business development. He was most recently president of Cambria, a countertop manufacturer. Aberson has also served as president of Sanford Health and Mammoth Sports Construction. He succeeds Scott Lawrence, who has been with the firm for 40 years. “I’m thrilled to hand the reins to Micah Aberson, whose experience and leadership will take L&S to new heights,” said Lawrence. Laura Mitchell, a 20-year veteran of the firm, has been promoted to president and COO, overseeing daily operations and strategic client engagement.
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| Matthew Matyjek |
Sustainable PR, a specialized "green" public relations firm based in Glens Falls, NY, names Matthew Matyjek as director of media relations. Matyjek comes to the agency from staffing and recruiting firm Robert Half, where he was a PR specialist. In his new post, he will oversee media relations and the accounts team. Sustainable has also promoted Carly Vallet to associate account manager, supporting media and community relations. “These additions enhance our capacity to meet client needs in a rapidly changing environment," said Sustainable PR founder and principal Tony DeFazio.
Netflix has hired Instacart’s Dani Dudeck as chief communications officer, effective Jan. 12. She also handled communications at Zynga and MySpace.
Deborah Sierchio, who was at Coyne PR for over two decades, has moved to Krupp, where she is taking on the role of EVP, managing director.
Bastion appoints Jody Sowa as managing director, PR in the US, strengthening the company’s growing presence in Los Angeles and New York... The Davis Companies, a Boston-based real estate developer, appoints Andrea Simpson as EVP of creative, brand and communications... CBIZ, a professional services advisor, appoints Christopher Sikora as VP, investor relations and corporate finance.
Nick Clegg, who was global affairs president at Meta in a seven-year run, has joined London's Hiro Capital investment firm as a general partner.
Burson brings on Bruce Haynes, who served as global co-chairman of the crisis communications and issues management unit at FGS Global, as U.S. head of public affairs.
