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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.
Jeffrey Rosen, senior chair of the corporate department at legal firm Debevoise & Plimpton, joins FGS Global, where he will serve as senior advisor.
Whit Clay, who exited the Co-CEO slot at Sloane & Co. 18 months ago to head Longacre Square Partners’ New York office, has been promoted to serve as the first CEO of the financial communication shop.
Global Strategy Group names Claudio Taratuta as an EVP of the L@B, its in-house creative and media agency. Taratuta joins GSG from Praytell, where he was a founding team member... ROKK Solutions appoints Kris Havens as EVP of intel and insights. Havens was most recently a partner at Penta Group... Cliff House Maine brings on William Courtney Lowe as chief business development and brand strategist. Lowe joins Cliff House Maine from Chatham Bars Inn on Cape Cod, where he was VP of marketing & business development. 
Eitan Bencuya, who has more than 20 years of technology PR experience, has signed on with Brunswick Group as a partner in its San Francisco office.
DGA Group has lined up the former US ambassadors to Qatar and Saudi Arabia as senior advisors to help clients navigate that politically complex region.
