 Ray Day |
IBM has named Ray Day its new chief communications officer. He’ll take the spot in December with the retirement of Jon Iwata who will retire after 34 years at Big Blue. Day comes to IBM after spending 28 years at Ford, where he was group VP of communications, leading its global comms efforts. Iwata will stay with IBM as a consultant through the first part of 2018, according to the company. Day succeeds former IBM chief communications officer Andy Whitehouse, who left the company after less than a year in February; the role has been vacant since then. He will report to IBM chairman and CEO Ginni Rometty.
 Brian Kennedy |
FTI Consulting has appointed Brian Kennedy head of the Americas for its strategic communications segment. He succeeds Mark McCall, who will assume the role of global segment leader for strategic communications. Kennedy, who has been with FTI since 2008, was most recently global head of energy & natural resources within the strategic communications segment. Prior to joining FTI, Kennedy held several communications and public policy roles in Congress, including press secretary for the then-Republican Leader of the U.S. House of Representatives, Rep. John A. Boehner. In his new post, he will help to ensure that the segment’s vision, strategy and operational goals are realized while overseeing growth and development in the hemisphere. Chris Tucker, who has been with FT for nine years, will succeed Mr. Kennedy as the segment’s global head of energy & natural resources.
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Ketchum has announced that partner Denise Kaufman, currently CEO of Ketchum London and a member of the firm's global leadership council, is returning to the U.S. to take on the role of director of client development for North America. She will be succeeded as CEO of Ketchum London by Jo-ann Robertson. Both roles are effective January 2018. Kaufmann has led the London office since 2013. Robertson has been deputy CEO of Ketchum London since 2015. Kaufmann will now be based in Chicago, focusing on providing counsel for the firm's North America-based clients. Robertson will assume responsibility for the day-to-day operations of the London office, which includes securing and retaining talent and building on the office's base of brand, corporate, healthcare, public affairs and technology clients.
Ballard Partners names former Burson managing director Mike Waterman as MD. Waterman comes to Ballard from ROKK Solutions... The Herald Group brings on Trace Scruggs and Evan Lukaske as VPs... Travelier, which operates platforms for booking intercity transportation services via buses, trains and ferries in 124 countries, appoints Mario Gavira as CMO. 
Raffetto Herman Strategic Communications brings on Jessica Gail, who served as director of communications for Rep. Eric Swalwell, as senior media lead... Prime Therapeutics appoints Katie Payne as chief external affairs officer, a newly created role. She was previously a senior director at APCO... Thunderly promotes Jason Weaver to director of paid media. 
Ruder Finn hires Brent Mullins as SVP, talent and partnerships. Mullins joins the agency from 160over90, where he was VP, entertainment marketing... Allison Worldwide names Katie Huang Shin global president, technology, effective Nov. 14... Vasion, which provides serverless printing and AI-enabled automation, appoints Cindy White as CMO. 
Mod Op brings on John Powers and Alan Kipust as part of its Executive in Residence program, which already includes former Dun & Bradstreet chief data officer Monica Richter... Takeda Pharmaceuticals hires James-Denton Wyllie as head of R&D and external innovation communications... Veeam Software, which specializes in data resilience solutions, appoints Allison Cerra as CMO.
The Dallas Mavericks bring on Gina Miller as chief communications officer, a newly created role. She was previously with Major League Soccer team FC Dallas... Americans for the Arts, a nonprofit organization that advances arts advocacy, names Jamey Lundblad as CMO... Ambac Financial Group, an insurance holding company, names Karen Beyer managing director, head of investor relations.
