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| Karen Gravois Elliott |
Drax Group, a UK-based renewable energy company, appoints Karen Gravois Elliott as VP of communications, North America, effective Jan. 7. Elliott most recently served as VP and head of communications and publications at the U.S.–China Business Council. She was previously VP of communications and public affairs at the Entertainment Software Association. Elliott will lead Drax's North American communications strategy, including internal and external communications, executive positioning, reputation management, and issues and crisis communications. "Karen is a highly respected communications leader with deep experience navigating complex and highly regulated environments," said Drax Group SVP of cororate affairs Deidra Jackson.
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| Kevin Kalvitis |
WXXI Public Media in Rochester, NY appoints Kevin Kalvitis as its first CMO, effective Jan. 5. Kalvitis was most recently director of marketing at broadband service provider Greenlight Networks. Before that, he was director of marketing and creative strategy & services at WHEC-TV, Rochester’s NBC affiliate. At WXXI, Kalvitis will lead the organization’s marketing, brand, creative, and corporate sponsorship teams in a unified strategy to grow brand visibility, increase earned revenue and build audience loyalty across all its platforms — radio, television, digital, CITY Magazine, and The Little Theatre. Following deep federal funding cuts, WXXI is looking to adapt its business model, and the CMO is a key part of this work. “His strong background in the media industry and his forward thinking makes him the right leader to help us envision a new future for public media in our community,” said WXXI president & CEO Chris Hastings.
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| Charlotte Weatherington |
The Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority promotes Charlotte Weatherington, who previously worked at DVL Seigenthaler (now part of FINN Partners), to director, corporate communications and marketing. Weatherington joined the MNAA in January as manager of corporate communications for its New Horizon construction program. She was previously assistant director of communications for Nashville’s Metropolitan Development and Housing Agency. At DVL Siegenthaler, she was an account coordinator. In her new post, Weatherington will oversee the development, coordination and promotion of internal and external communications, public relations and media relations. She will also have responsibility for developing and maintaining positive relations with local and national news media; airport tenants; relevant governmental agencies at the federal, state and local levels; civic organizations and the general public.
Sarah Knakmuhs, who formerly led H/Advisors Abernathy’s DC office, is joining the Financial Services Forum as chief communications and strategy officer.
Brian Hughes, chief of staff at NASA, has joined Mercury Public Affairs as a partner in its Tallahassee office.
Narrative Strategies brings on Stacia Tipton as managing director... Prosek Partners promotes Deirdre Bolton, Josh Clarkson and Jon Schwartz to partner... YAP Global, an international digital assets PR firm, promotes Otto Jacobsson, who has served as CFO of the firm since 2020, to CEO. 
Cindy Leggett-Flynn, who most recently led communications at Credit Suisse, is coming on board at Swiss multinational private bank and wealth management firm Julius Baer Group as group head of communications.
The Pollack Group brings on John Cheng as creative director and Daniel Chou as director of digital strategy... Baretz+Brunelle, an advisory firm that works with legal industry businesses, brings on Daniel Gilfarb, as a senior managing director in its talent practice.... Prophet names Mat Zucker, who has served as interim CMO for the past two years, to the full-time CMO position.
