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| Brandy King |
H&R Block names Brandy King VP of corporate communications. King joins the company from Southwest Airlines, where she most recently served as managing director for campaign strategy and integration. Her previous positions at Southwest included managing director of communications and director of commercial, operational and labor communications. King was also named one of Ragan’s 2025 Top Women in Communications. At H&R Block, she oversees field and internal communications, media relations, corporate reputation, storytelling, executive visibility, and crisis management. “Brandy’s strategic vision, creative excellence, and deep communications expertise will enhance our brand reputation and engagement with clients, media, and stakeholders,” said H&R Block chief marketing and experience officer Jill Cress.
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| Jaime LaMontagne |
Astrin Biosciences, a cancer intelligence company working to transform detection and treatment via deep proteomics (the large-scale study of proteins) and AI, tabs Jaime LaMontagne to serve as CMO. LaMontagne, who has led CRM global marketing and medical education at Medtronic, was most recently CMO at Exact Sciences. At Astrin she will oversee all aspects of Astrin's marketing strategy, including brand development, go-to-market planning, product positioning, market education and engagement. “Jaime's track record of translating technical innovation into scalable, patient-centered commercial strategies makes her the right person to lead this next chapter of growth for Astrin," said Astrin Biosciences CEO Jayant Parthasarathy.
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| (L-R) Gabe Tesoriero, Kate Cafaro |
United Talent Agency appoints Gabe Tesoriero and Kate Cafaro VPs of corporate communications. Tesoriero will head up communications for UTA's global music division, with Cafaro overseeing communications for the agency's filmed entertainment division. Tesoriero most recently founded and ran Screaming Eagle, which worked with such clients as rap duo Clipse and rock band Phish. He was previously EVP of media & brand Strategy for Def Jam Recordings/Universal Music Group, executing strategic media campaigns for artists including Kanye West, Justin Bieber and Rihanna. Cafaro most recently helped lead corporate and executive communications for Amazon MGM Studios. She was previously senior director, communications at ICM Partners and director, communications at CBS Television Distribution.
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.
The Herald Group, a DC-based public affairs firm, brings on DDC Public Affairs SVP, creative director Brad Whitford as chief creative officer... Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute hires former Mastercard VP of marketing Dana Bodine as its first CMO... Reinsurance Group of America, a life and health reinsurer, appoints Ryan Krueger as SVP, investor relations, effective Jan. 5, 2026.
Edelman has named Anna Vogt, who is EMEA chief strategy officer at VML, as its
