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| Lisa DeScenza |
LaVoieHealthScience ups Lisa DeScenza to president. DeScenza has been with the agency for more than 13 years, most recently serving as SVP, supporting a range of health-related clients as well as handling business development and marketing for the firm. She has played a central role in shaping client relationships and program implementation, in addition to building the agency’s culture and guiding day-to-day operations. As president, DeScenza will assume a broad agency-wide role, managing the Boston office and supporting operational excellence, client service and resource alignment. She will work closely with agency founder and CEO Donna LaVoie and LHS staff to ensure client needs are met with the right expertise. LaVoie will continue to oversee agency strategy and growth, while partnering closely with DeScenza across client service, including client execution and operations. “Lisa has been an integral part of LaVoieHealthScience’s leadership for many years, and her appointment as president reflects the strength of the partnership we’ve built together,” said LaVoie.
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| Glenn Gray |
Buffalo Groupe, which works with golf, hospitality and real estate brands, promotes Glenn Gray to chief growth officer. Gray was most recently EVP at the company. He has led Buffalo Groupe’s business development strategy and vision since the former Buffalo Agency was spun off from golf course management company Billy Casper Golf in 2019. Gray had been with Buffalo Agency since 2010, leading strategic communications for key accounts. At Buffalo Groupe, he has played a pivotal leadership role in evolving the company’s reputation, expertise, and partners into new verticals across broader sport, real estate, hospitality, fitness and entertainment categories while continuing to expand its presence and expertise in golf. “Glenn’s relentless drive and deep understanding of the golf and 'escape' industries have been foundational to Buffalo Groupe’s success,” said Buffalo Group president and CMO Emily Clark.
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| (L-R) Mike Swartz, Ellie Ahmadi |
Marketbridge, a Bethesda, MD-based marketing consultant, names Mike Swartz chief growth officer and Ellie Ahmadi as SVP of global corporate marketing. Swarz comes to Marketbridge from IT services and consulting company Bounteous. He was previously SVP, growth at Accenture Song. In his new post, Swartz is responsible for accelerating Marketbridge’s growth across clients, offerings, and markets. Ahmadi most recently held several senior marketing posts at Rivea Marketing Transformation and has also served as CMO of market research company Sago. Her role will be central to how Marketbridge positions its evolving capabilities in the market. “Mike and Ellie bring the leadership and executional rigor needed to help our clients navigate increasingly complex buying environments while accelerating Marketbridge’s own growth,” said Bob Ray, who was named CEO of the company in November.
Carmichael Lynch president and manager Julie Batliner is joining Padilla as president, succeeding Matt Kuchariski. Kucharski will transition to a fractional role with the agency as an executive counselor through the end of the year.
Evan Shenkman, who has 25 years of law firm experience, is now a partner at professional services firm Baretz+Brunelle. He helped design and implement the first generative AI product for legal professionals.
Accenture brings on Emma Chalwin as CMO, effective Oct. 1. Chalwin joins Accenture from Workday, where she also served as CMO, with responsibility for building the brand and driving customer demand in markets around the world... The Vitamin Shoppe appoints Kimberley Gardiner EVP, chief marketing and growth officer. She joins from Tractor Supply Company... Fluent, a provider of commerce media solutions, names Jeanniey Walden as CMO.
maslansky + partners, a specialist consultancy within Omnicom Public Relations, names founding partner Keith Yazmir president of the firm... The National Football League Players Association names Matt Taylor chief communications officer, effective Sept. 8... Repay Holdings Corporation, a provider of bill payment solutions, appoints Charles Nabhan as head of investor relations.
Bospar hires veteran technology, cybersecurity and healthcare sector journalist and content creator Doug Olenick as tech and healthcare content director... The Huntington National Bank appoints Ameesh Vakharia as EVP and chief marketing and digital products officer, a newly created role... SDA International, a Honolulu-based strategic communications firm, promotes Cassie Kim to SVP. 
