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| (L-R) Kostas Karanikolas, Jonathan Walker |
Prosek Partners adds Kostas Karanikolas and Jonathan Walker to its London-based strategic branding and integrated marketing arm, Prophecy. Karanikolas joins as an executive creative director. He was most recently an executive creative at FleishmanHillard and has also served in roles including global creative director at WPP and Saatchi & Saatchi. At Prosek, he will lead the London team’s creative offering. Walker will be SVP and integrated account lead across Prosek’s digital and Prophecy businesses, helping further bring together brand, digital content, paid media and advertising as one service. He joins Prosek from brand and digital agency Mammoth, where he served as a key account director. “They both bring deep experience in their respective specialties and will play a key role in building out our bold integrated offering in the UK market and globally,” said Neil Goklani, partner and head of Prophecy. In addition, Sara Haney is moving from Prosek’s New York team to the London office as design director.
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| Rachel Teisch |
Baretz+Brunelle, a growth advisory firm to businesses in the legal industry, hires Rachel Teisch as a senior managing director and member of its innovation practice. Before joining B+B, Teisch held marketing and strategy leadership positions at OpenText, Xerox, Conduent, Catalyst Repository Systems, H5 (acquired by Lighthouse), and Navigant Consulting (now Guidehouse). She joins B+B following the firm’s February acquisition of LexFusion. Her marketing expertise will complement the market intelligence and sales acceleration expertise of B+B partners and LexFusion co-founders Joe Borstein, Paul Stroka and Casey Flaherty. “She immediately allows us to offer even more comprehensive growth services, with her proven marketing talents adding to the sales acceleration, intelligence, and industry acumen offered by B+B’s LexFusion team,” said B+B CEO Mike McNamara.
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| Ellizabeth Whitney Rubel |
Paradox Public Relations brings on Elizabeth Whitney Rubel as chief strategy officer. Whitey Rubel was previously an executive with Hearst Digital Media, where she worked with businesses to implement omnichannel digital marketing strategies. Before that, she served as managing partner of the ESG firm Tellus, leading its strategic partnership process. She has also led sales efforts for the New York Times and partnerships for the International Chamber of Commerce. Elizabeth will further Paradox’s footprint across emerging markets including US and European defense technology, while expanding the company’s investor relations offerings. "Her experience leading teams at Hearst and the International Chamber of Commerce will be invaluable as we navigate a truly unique moment in history for our clients," said Paradox Public Relations President Davis Richardson.
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| (L-R) Ciara Benko, Maria Opatz |
Praytell has promoted Ciara Benko to EVP and Maria Opatz to SVP, travel & tourism. Benko has most recently served as SVP, head of media relations & strategy. She will lead the agency’s newly created Influence department, which encompasses media relations, influencer and corporate. Her experience at the agency also includes integrated marketing, corporate reputation, consumer comms, creative, and digital/social. Opatz, previously vice president and co-lead of the agency's travel practice, will now serve as SVP, while continuing to co-lead the practice. “They are both hands on, get it done and not afraid to do the dirty work, while also trusted and strategic voices. Both are true subject matter experts, which comes through in their passionate, curious, brilliant work,” said Praytell founder and CEO Andy Pray.
Carmichael Lynch president and manager Julie Batliner is joining Padilla as president, succeeding Matt Kuchariski. Kucharski will transition to a fractional role with the agency as an executive counselor through the end of the year.
Evan Shenkman, who has 25 years of law firm experience, is now a partner at professional services firm Baretz+Brunelle. He helped design and implement the first generative AI product for legal professionals.
Accenture brings on Emma Chalwin as CMO, effective Oct. 1. Chalwin joins Accenture from Workday, where she also served as CMO, with responsibility for building the brand and driving customer demand in markets around the world... The Vitamin Shoppe appoints Kimberley Gardiner EVP, chief marketing and growth officer. She joins from Tractor Supply Company... Fluent, a provider of commerce media solutions, names Jeanniey Walden as CMO.
maslansky + partners, a specialist consultancy within Omnicom Public Relations, names founding partner Keith Yazmir president of the firm... The National Football League Players Association names Matt Taylor chief communications officer, effective Sept. 8... Repay Holdings Corporation, a provider of bill payment solutions, appoints Charles Nabhan as head of investor relations.
Bospar hires veteran technology, cybersecurity and healthcare sector journalist and content creator Doug Olenick as tech and healthcare content director... The Huntington National Bank appoints Ameesh Vakharia as EVP and chief marketing and digital products officer, a newly created role... SDA International, a Honolulu-based strategic communications firm, promotes Cassie Kim to SVP. 
