Burson-Marsteller polling outfit Penn Schoen Berland has appointed Jack MacKenzie executive vice president. He will now lead the firm’s global media and entertainment practice.
MacKenzie joins PSB from Los Angeles-based ad agency Oxford Road, where he was senior advisor and head of research. Prior to that he served as executive vice president at research consulting firm Frank N. Magid and Associates, where he worked with clients such as Sony Pictures Television and Disney. He began his career as a broadcast journalist and TV news director.
MacKenzie will now oversee the growth and development of PSB’s media and entertainment practice, and will lead an expansion of the WPP research unit’s business into TV, advertising, content and video game development.
He will be based in Los Angeles and will report to PSB CEO Curtis Freet, who said that MacKenzie’s “deep understanding of the entertainment industry and media consumption habits will allow PSB to both honor our traditional areas of expertise and expand our reach into broader entertainment, digital, and consumer terrains.”
Alcoa has named Emily Olson, who has more than 20 years of experience working in capital-intensive industries in the Americas, Europe and Asia, EVP & chief external affairs officer, effective April 6.
Longacre Square Partners has named Humza Vanderman partner and head of its London outpost as the financial communications firm expands into Europe.
FGS Global adds former Pfizer EVP and chief corporate affairs officer Sally Susman to its global executive board as an independent member, effective April 1... Codeword brings on Kim Baffi, who was previously Salesforce VP and creative director, as executive creative director... Amperity, an AI-powered customer data cloud, appoints Bridget Perry as CMO.
MOIA America, a Volkswagen Group of America subsidiary that develops and tests autonomous, all-electric ride-pooling vehicles, names Marcus Gamo head of U.S. communications... Continental Strategy brings on Francisco Petrirena as VP in its Miami office. Petrirena was previously chief of staff to former Miami city manager Art Noriega... MSQ Sport + Entertainment brings on Lauren Weil as EVP, Max Hirsch as VP of sponsorship, and Brooke Losee as VP.
Burson promotes EMEA COO Matt Buchanan to global chief social and Influence officer, a newly created role... Seedtag, a “global neuro-contextual advertising company,” brings on former Edelman SVP, corporate and public affairs Brendan McCarthy as chief marketing & communications officer... The Associated Press ups Lauren Easton to SVP and chief communications officer.
