 |
| Taylor Gray |
Zeno Group names Taylor Gray EVP and head of Zeno Atlanta, effective Jan. 5. Prior to joining Zeno, Gray was head of global masterbrand, mainstream, premium & suites brands at IHG Hotels & Resorts, leading communications for 12 hospitality brands across the Americas. Before joining IHG, she was a VP at MSL and senior account supervisor at Edelman. Gray will lead Zeno’s Atlanta presence and guide a multidisciplinary team spanning such capabilities as brand and corporate affairs, earned media, digital, creator, and data & intelligence. “Atlanta is a strategically important growth market for Zeno,” said Zeno U.S. president Grant Deady. “As client needs continue to evolve in complexity and scale, investing in local senior leadership allows us to deepen those relationships, move faster, and expand our impact across the region.”
 |
| Madeleine Davidson |
The Professional Women’s Hockey League brings on Madeleine Davidson as director, communications, West Coast. Davidson joins PWHL from the Toronto Blue Jays and Rogers Centre, where she served as director, business communications. She was previously a senior account executive at Edelman. In her new role, Davidson will be a strategic business partner to the media relations leads for PWHL’s expansion teams in Seattle and Vancouver, supporting them through their inaugural season and helping establish strong communications foundations. She will also lead communications for several leaguewide business initiatives across corporate partnerships, ticketing, marketing and other areas. “She understands what it takes to support an organization that’s establishing itself, building, and scaling at the same time, and that perspective will be incredibly valuable as the league continues to expand,” said PWHL VP of communications and external affairs Mandy Gutmann.
 |
| Vanessa Lai |
R/GA appoints Vanessa Lai as group creative director, intelligent systems, a newly created role. Lai joins the agency from Monks, where she most recently served as group innovation director. Her work spanned AI-powered storytelling, immersive environments and hybrid experiences that blended the physical, digital, and virtual. At R/GA, Lai will act as a key connector across the company, partnering closely with Addition, a leading AI System Design and Development studio that was acquired by R/GA earlier this year. “Vanessa brings the rare blend of creativity, technical fluency, and systems thinking that’s needed today,” said R/GA global chair and chief creative officer Tiffany Rolfe.
 |
| Ian Stone |
LifeSci Communications promotes agency president Ian Stone to CEO, charged with guiding the agency’s growth and strengthening its partnerships with healthcare companies. He will be based in LifeSci’s new San Diego Office alongside teams from LifeSci Consulting and LifeSci Advisors. Stone previously held senior leadership roles at Canale Communications, where he led media relations and supported the organization’s growth and eventual integration into Inizio Evoke Communications. “Ian has demonstrated the leadership and vision that make him the right person to lead our next chapter,” said founding partner of LifeSci Communications and LifeSci Partners Andrew McDonald.
Renault Group brings on Paul Michon as corporate communications director, effective Sept. 1. He joins from Kering, the luxury goods marketer.
SKDK makes Loren Riegelhaupt, Michael Czin and Julie Andreeff Jensen agency partners... Coca-Cola Company promotes Gary McElyea to lead its pan-European Public Policy & Government Affairs agenda, and Sophia Chrysopoulou to serve as head of EU public affairs... Rithum, a commerce solutions provider, appoints Kim Miller as CMO and head of global strategy. 
Mara Motherway, who was
Avoq has recruited advertising pro Jillian Goger as senior VP/group creative director in its New York office.
SBM Partners, a Tallahassee-based government affairs firm, brings on Kevin Cleary as a partner. Cleary most recently served as VP of government relations at Allegiant Strategies Group.... WHOOP, which offers a wearable device providing health guidance across sleep, recovery, strain, fitness and longevity, names Dirk-Jan "DJ" van Hameren as CMO.... Dunn Pellier Media, a PR agency working with clients in the health and wellness sector, promotes Erica Gutierrez from account executive to senior account executive.
