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| Mike Waterman |
Ballard Strategy Group names former Burson managing director Mike Waterman as MD. Waterman comes to Ballard from ROKK Solutions, where he served as SVP. He has also been a VP at Levick and Zeno Group. Earlier in his career, Waterman was press secretary to former Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan. According to a post from Ballard on LinkedIn, Waterman’s “decades of professional experience bring an important focus for continued growth. His expertise—including corporate reputation, public affairs and media relations—provides our clients with first-class counsel.”
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| (L-R) Trace Scruggs, Evan Lukaske |
The Herald Group brings on Trace Scruggs and Evan Lukaske as VPs. Scruggs was most recently senior director of public affairs at PLUS Communications. Before that, he worked in external affairs and communications at the Edison Electric Institute. Lukaske was previously communications director for U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY). He has also held senior communications and advisory roles on presidential, U.S. Senate, gubernatorial, and congressional campaigns. With these additions, The Herald Group has made over 15 hires in 2025. “We’re investing in senior talent because the demand for public affairs has never been higher,” said The Herald Group founding partner Matt Well. “Trace and Evan expand our capacity to help clients navigate complexity and win where it matters most.”
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| Mario Gavira |
Travelier, which operates platforms for booking intercity transportation services via buses, trains and ferries in 124 countries, appoints Mario Gavira as CMO. Gavira most recently served as VP of global growth and brand at travel tech company Kiwi.com, leading its global branding, performance marketing and customer engagement strategy. In his new post, he will be responsible for Travelier’s global marketing strategy with a focus on scaling growth and advancing innovation. “Mario’s deep travel-tech experience, his proven record in scaling global brands, and his ability to apply best practices from across the industry make him the ideal leader to strengthen Travelier’s position as a global category-defining company,” said Travelier co-founder & CEO Noam Toister.
FGS Global brings on HSBC's Jean-Manuel Richier as senior advisor to bolster its equity advisory, investor relations and transaction & financial communications capabilities across Europe... TEAM LEWIS names Danielle Malvesti SVP, strategy. Malvesti joins the agency from Cramer.... Durée & Company ups Abbie Lipton to vice president... LDWW promotes Michelle Poland, Channing Sizemore and Emma Stoneham to managing director.
Narrative Strategies hires Chris Bissex as a managing director. Bissex was most recently deputy director of public affairs for the Federal Trade Commission... Marino promotes Elizabeth Latino to COO and managing director.... The Charlotte Hornets hire Big 12 Conference chief brand & business officer Tyrel Kirkham as CMO.
Breakwater Strategy, a strategic insights and communications consultancy, brings on former CNN justice correspondent Jessica Schneider as a VP... Stratacomm, a DC-based firm, names Darren Scher chief operating and integration officer. Scher comes to the agency from Adfero, where he was most recently managing director... Dreamday hires Veronica Gauthier as SVP of growth... TextNow appoints Bonnie Herche as VP of marketing. Herche joins the company from Crain Communications.
DCI Group has hired Will Stevens, who has more than 20 years of
Imre names Fred Hickman EVP, group account lead. Hickman joins Imre from Klick, an agency that works with life sciences companies... Residence, a global network of creative companies, brings on Julian McBride as head of communications, a newly created role... Sherlock Communications, which has offices in Bogotå, Buenos Aires, Mexico City, Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo and Santiago, appoints Bianca Boucault, Maria Amelia Costa and Patricia Zylberman as managing directors.
