Solomon McCown, a Boston-based national public relations firm, announced the opening of its new office in New York City. Solomon McCown has a track record of working with clients in Boston, New York and Washington, D.C., so the new office is a natural progression that will enable the firm to be closer to existing and prospective clients, as well as established real estate, financial services and healthcare companies, key growth areas for the agency. The firm has grown in the last two years, and has already hired 6 new employees in 2013. The new office will be led by Jonathan Pappas, a seasoned agency veteran who brings a compelling mix of agency, corporate, and real estate experience to New York City. (Release)

Ketchum has announced four new hires, three in Atlanta and one in New York: 

• Phil Swire joins as senior vice president, digital strategy & technology, New York. Phil Swire leads Ketchum’s development function in the U.S. and oversees technology strategy across the Ketchum network. A digital strategist, Swire joins Ketchum from PricewaterhouseCoopers where he was a leader in that firm’s digital strategy practice.
  
• Matt Browher is the new senior vice president, digital strategy, Atlanta. Browher has extensive experience in strategy development, team management and interactive marketing, having recently worked at Digitas and as the digital practice lead for FleishmanHillard in Atlanta.
• Amy Andrieux, the new vice president, multimedia content & strategy, New York, was formerly editorial director at MTV World. Andrieux oversees the Ketchum Digital video group, helps lead content strategy for the U.S., and helps to evolve Ketchum Digital’s multimedia capabilities. Andrieux brings a wealth of multimedia, video and content development experience to Ketchum from her experience developing and leading editorial strategy for MTV World online portals. 
• Kristen Massaro, Vice President, Digital Strategy, New York, supports a number of key accounts, including Michelin and Gillette, and lends support to other markets in the Ketchum network, with emphasis on the Southern U.S region. Massaro, who has deep expertise in social media engagement, was previously with with Emanate, a public relations sister agency to Ketchum, where she led the digital and social strategy specialty since 2011. (Release)

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DuPont welcomes Tiffany M. Atwell as its newly appointed director of International Government Affairs. With over 15 years working on issues relating to international trade policies, Atwell has built quite a career in Washington. Previously, she was the senior director for Strategic Programs in Government Affairs and Policy for Abbott. She managed a team whose goal was to develop public-private partnerships with key governments and NGOs to drive outreach strategies in emerging markets like Russia, India and Brazil. She served as the International Trade Policy advisor to Senator Chuck Grassley, former Finance Committee chairman. Atwell managed trade related issues regarding China including: textiles, tariffs, currency exchange policies, customs and trade preference programs. Previously, she served as a congressional liaison for the undersecretary for Legislative Affairs for the U.S. Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration assisting members of Congress in resolution of trade-related issues for their constituents. (Release)

BBH named a new CEO for North America, Patrick Lafferty, who joins the agency after spending two-and-a-half years at McCann and the last 18 months as its North American COO. Lafferty replaces Greg Andersen, who was one of those affected by BBH’s major “restructuring” last fall. Lafferty, who will officially assume his CEO title at BBH this summer and based out of its New York office, who was a former platoon leader/company commander in the U.S. Army, will be tasked with running both BBH New York. (AgencySpy)

Brainshark, Inc. announced the appointment of Larry DiLoreto as senior vice president of sales and chief revenue officer. In this role, DiLoreto is responsible for directing and managing Brainshark’s worldwide sales and revenue strategies. A seasoned sales and technology executive with a track record of global success, DiLoreto adds to the depth of Brainshark’s management team – helping the company extend its market leadership and momentum. Prior to Brainshark, DiLoreto served as executive vice president and chief revenue officer at SmartBear Software, where he led the company to achieve record revenues, developed its go-to-market channel strategy and directed its international expansion. (Release) Read more

Havas Worldwide announced the appointment of Tim Maleeny as chief strategy officer, Havas Worldwide New York, where he will be responsible for all aspects of strategy at the New York flagship agency. In addition, Tim will share the North American chief strategy officer responsibilities with James Lou, who is chief strategy officer of Havas Worldwide Chicago. Maleeny is one of the industry’s leading strategic thinkers, running the largest planning department in the country as head of strategic planning at Ogilvy New York before joining Havas Worldwide. In his new role, he will be overseeing the New York strategy department. Maleeny will also serve on the New York agency’s executive committee. (Release)

Nearly three years after joining up with BBDO New York as executive vice president/group planning director on the AT&T account, Jeff Kenyon has been appointed head of planning for the agency. Kenyon joined BBDO after serving as group planning director at Ogilvy on campaigns including IBM’s “Smarter Planet” and “My Life, My Card” for American Express. (AgencySpy)

Cookerly Public Relations recently welcomed Keith Bowermaster as vice president. Bowermaster joins Cookerly with more than 20 years of success in healthcare, non-profit, educational and agency communications. He has served as a vital member of senior-level teams responsible for creating and implementing communications and marketing plans to audiences on a local, national and global level. As vice president, Bowermaster will be responsible for issues management, media relations and marketing communications for clients in healthcare, technology and financial services, among other industries.Prior to joining Cookerly, Bowermaster served as director of public relations for WellStar Health System, the largest not-for-profit health system in Georgia. (Release) Read more

Mercury announced the addition of renowned journalist Ben Feller to its New York office. Feller, who most recently served as the chief White House correspondent for The Associated Press, has joined as a managing director leading media strategy efforts for the firm’s public affairs division. Ben served as the chief White House correspondent for The Associated Press—a premier role in journalism—during which he became a trusted leader of the Washington press corps. In more than six years of covering the administrations of President Barack Obama and President George W. Bush, Feller was twice honored for his excellence in reporting on the presidency. (Release)

Nuñez PR Group announced the addition of Amanda L. Ray as vice president. Ray has more than 20 years of professional strategic public relations experience with more than nine years of client service supporting a Fortune 50 company. She will lead key accounts, such as Famous Footwear, as well as new business opportunities. Her experience includes communications for consumer and business-to-business products and services, technology, telecommunications and wireless, energy and nonprofit organizations. At Nuñez PR Group, Ray’s main responsibilities include strategic direction for integrated marketing, media relations and social media engagement. They also include executive support and national campaign management. (Release)

Marketwired has promoted COO Jim Delaney to CEO weeks after it rebranded from Marketwire. Michael Nowlan, who served as chief executive of the company for the past 14 years, will remain on its board of directors and continue to provide strategic oversight. In his new role, Delaney will focus on “leading transformational change in the traditional distribution industry” through new products and services, new relationships with social networks, and growing market share and revenue, according to a statement. Delaney joined Marketwire as COO last August from Dun & Bradstreet. At the time, the company created the position with the intention of grooming the next CEO, it said in a statement. (Release) Read more

Lindsey Back has joined J Public Relations as chief financial officer.Lindsey brings a vast amount of accounting and operational expertise to the company. With extensive experience in the financial services industry, Lindsey has worked with clients ranging from start-ups and large corporations, to individual families and small businesses.Previously, Lindsey served as the CFO for a successful money management firm where she managed all accounting operations, as well as compliance and investor relations. (Release)

Joe Cianciotto who has spent over nine years at DDB and works out of the New York office, has been appointed to the newly created position of chief digital officer at the agency. Along with his new CDO title, which he will take on effective immediately, Cianciotto will also maintain his position as executive creative director, a role he’s held at DDB for the last six years. He also served as director of digital integration at DDB for the past three years. During his career, the senior creative also spent over six years at Publicis, where he last served as an ACD. (AgencySpy)

McMurry/TMG has named industry veteran Liz Rioux-Christian vice president of content marketing sales. Rioux-Christian was most recently the managing director at Meredith Custom Solutions Group, where she was responsible for sales team management and helped propel the group to the most profitable year in recent history. At McMurry/TMG, she will focus on business development within the corporate, technology and consumer packaged goods sectors. (Release)

Sachs Media Group announced that veteran communications professional Jon Peck has been promoted to the new position of vice president of public relations. Peck will help direct the activities of the firm’s award-winning public relations team on behalf of its extensive roster of clients. A former gubernatorial press secretary, Peck joined Sachs Media (then Ron Sachs Communications) in January 2012 as a senior account manager, working with local, state and national clients, following more than three decades as a journalist and senior-level communications director. (Release)

Stuzo announced the appointment of Richard Friedman as chief technology officer and Yan Rozovsky as executive vice president of client engagement. Richard Friedman is a seasoned, results-driven technology executive who brings to the company years of experience using software to solve business problems. He most recently served as VP of engineering at MeetMe/myYearbook. Yan Rozovsky brings over 15 years of leadership experience and deep industry knowledge in digital, social media marketing and analytics. Prior to Stuzo, Yan was VP of social sales & strategy at Oracle, formerly Vitrue. He was responsible for managing and growing Sales and Business Development efforts across North America, working with some of the world’s leading brands, agencies and social networks. (Release)

Clear Channel Media has added digital media executive Brian Kaminsky as EVP of operations for their digital division, effective immediately.  Kaminsky, who joins Clear Channel from The Huffington Post, spent 17 years working with big brands and high-growth startups, and served as the COO/GM of The Huffington Post, where he led business operations, advertising products and business development. (allaccess.com) Read more

Bill Bungeroth has been named vice president/market manager for Cumulus Media, San Francisco. Bungeroth assumes his new post immediately, overseeing the legendary Cumulus’ San Francisco brands, KNBR, 107.7 The Bone (KSAN), KTCT and KFOG. Bungeroth has had a significant role with Cumulus. He co-founded the radio group, and was named Cumulus’ initial President and CEO. Bungeroth comes to the position after a significant radio and entrepreneurial career with strong ratings and revenue successes. He conceived and launched “The Huckabee Report” with Governor Mike Huckabee, now on 560 stations. He also championed “The Download with iTunes” and most recently, led the executive team that launched the 24/7 Comedy Network nationwide. (Release)

Smithsonian Media elevated marketing director Judy Glassman to associate publisher/marketing. She is now responsible for developing multi-platform marketing programs for the Smithsonian flagship along with Air & Space Smithsonian, goSmithsonian, Smithsonian Channel and Smithsonian.com. Glassman is past marketing executive at six Condé Nast magazines: Allure, Gentlemen’s Quarterly, Glamour, Lucky, Modern Bride and Self. (minonline.com)

The Public Relations Global Network (PRGN) announced the addition of three new worldwide agency affiliates in Chile, Portugal and Tokyo, bringing its global reach to 47 cities worldwide. Joining the ranks of PRGN are RumboCierto Communications representing Chile, Global Press out of Portugal and Integrate Communications from Tokyo. RumboCierto Communications provides its clients with strategic communications counseling in a direct and personalized way. The agency has a core competency in mass media and government relations with a particular focus on public affairs. Global Press is a boutique-sized PR firm specialized in providing strategic direction, corporate communications and media relations counsel to both private and public companies. Integrate Communications is comprised of a team of young and dynamic practitioners who bring a global perspective to client service. They have a core competency in developing and implementing strategic marketing communications campaigns on behalf of clients in the consumer products, leisure and food industries. (Release)

Veteran sales and marketing executive Peggy Schecter has joined Penton as strategic sales director, a new position created to develop multi-platform marketing programs targeting small- and medium-sized businesses (SMB). Schecter brings more than 20 years of experience in media and business information management and sales to the position, with specific expertise developing business and custom integrated marketing solutions for leading technology companies. She most recently served as advertising sales manager, east, for Synacor Portal Group, a leading multi-platform multimedia technology company. (Release)

Dan Fitzgerald, a leader in the development and siting of renewable energy projects in the Northeast, has joined the public affairs firm Behan Communications, Inc. as a senior project manager. Fitzgerald previously worked for EDP Renewables, formerly Horizon Wind Energy, where he managed a cross-disciplinary team of environmental, legal, meteorological, engineering and finance professionals in the development of wind farm projects in Maine and New York. He oversaw development of the 215 MW Marble River Wind Farm in Clinton County, New York. At Behan Communications, he will provide strategic communications, public affairs strategy and crisis communications support to the firm’s energy and environmental clients and will be based in Behan’s Albany, N.Y., office. (Release) Read more

Condé Nast Entertainment named Whitney Hill, a former Sony Music executive, as senior vice president of business development and strategy. The hire is effective immediately, and in her new roll Hill is charged with developing the entertainment group’s digital content and distribution and expanding the publisher’s original video programming across its stable of 26 magazine brands. Hill was most recently senior vice president, strategic partnerships, global digital business at Sony Music Entertainment, where she led negotiations on content deals and managed key partner relationships for the global digital distribution of the Sony Music repertoire. Prior to Hill’s strategic partnerships role, she was responsible for corporate development and digital strategy at Sony Music. (FishbowlNY)

Steve Belgard has joined Andrew E. Freedman Public Relations as vice president of the firm. Belgard comes to the firm after a 13-year tenure at Starz Entertainment, where he served as senior director of entertainment, working on original programming including “Spartacus,” “Camelot” and “Party Down.” In his v.p. post at AEFPR, Belgard will handle accounts in film, TV, music and publishing. He will be based in the firm’s West Hollywood offices. (Variety)

Hill+Knowlton Strategies Global Chairman and CEO Jack Martin promoted from within his company’s ranks to fill leadership positions in Asia. Radhika Shapoorjee, a member of H+K IPAN since 2007, has been promoted to president, South Asia. She had served as president of H+K IPAN since 2008. Sara Gourlay, who joined H+K in 2000, has been promoted to COO of H+K Strategies India. She will be based in New Delhi. She had most recently been serving as the client service director for the region encompassing Africa, India, the Middle East and Turkey. Rachel Chan, a nearly nine-year veteran of H+K, has been promoted to managing director of the Hong Kong office. Previously, she served as general manager of the financial communications practice for Greater China. K.W. Lam, who has been with H+K for the past five years, has been named deputy managing director of Hong Kong. He previously served as the general manager of the financial communications practice in Hong Kong. (Release)

Liz Musch has been named Global CEO of Ipsos ASI. Ms. Musch succeeds Alex Gronberger, who takes on the new role of regional CEO of Ipsos Latin America. She will oversee Ipsos ASI’s global network of 60 offices from the company’s Paris corporate headquarters. As part of her expanded responsibilities, Musch also joins the Ipsos Management Board. Prior to her promotion, Liz was global CEO of the Ipsos Loyalty division, joining Ipsos in January 2009. During her tenure at the helm of Loyalty, the division’s revenues more than doubled. Ipsos Loyalty will be led by Ralf Ganzenmueller, former Ipsos Germany CEO. (Release)

Viacom Inc. named Steve Agase as senior vice president of Music & Entertainment Ad Sales, West Coast. In his new role, Agase will oversee West Coast ad sales for Viacom Media Networks Music and Entertainment, a portfolio that includes both linear and digital assets across CMT, COMEDY CENTRAL, MTV, LOGO, Spike TV, TV Land, and VH1. Agase will be responsible for growing Viacom Media Networks’ partnerships with West Coast agencies and advertisers, including its key clients in the motion picture industry. He will work closely with the division’s Programming, Integrated Marketing and Research teams to leverage linear and digital assets across the Music & Entertainment brands and meet client objectives. (Release)

Genesis Media announced the appointment of Chris Durand as its new vice president of Technology and Engineering. As VP of Technology and Engineering, Durand will lead Genesis Media’s technology team in developing its core platform, video, mobile and data products. Durand will also be responsible for building out the NY-based technology team, key vendor selection, QA and managing core technology operations and infrastructure. Before joining Genesis Media, Durand was the vice president of Client Operations for SelectMinds Inc. (Release)

Chrysler Group LLC announced the following changes to its Leadership Team: Reid Bigland was named president and CEO of the Ram Truck Brand. He continues as head of U.S. Sales, and president and CEO of Chrysler Canada. Most recently, he was president and CEO of the Dodge Brand. Timothy Kuniskis was named president and CEO of the Dodge Brand. He most recently served as Head of the FIAT Brand for North America. Jason Stoicevich was appointed head of the FIAT Brand for North America. Stoicevich retains the position as director of the California Business Center. In his 10 years of service with Chrysler, Stoicevich has gained experience in a variety of assignments in the Company’s business center operations. Bruno Cattori was appointed president and CEO of Chrysler de México. Cattori most recently served as director for Retail Sales and Fleet for all Chrysler Group brands in Mexico, a position which he retrains. (Release)