Kiersten Hollars

Chandler Chicco Companies (part of inVentiv Health) has acquired two German healthcare firms: Haas & Health Partner Public Relations and SanCom Creative Communication Solutions. CCC took a 19.9 percent interest in these firms in 2008. The acquisitions add 33 staffers (23 from the former, 10 from the latter), bringing Chandler Chicco’s staff total to 380 around the world. Both firms will continue with their current names and leadership.

Michael Sneed has been named VP of global corporate affairs at Johnson & Johnson, effective January 1, Ad Age reports. He will lead the global marketing and PR efforts as the company tries to comeback from a series of recalls. Brian Perkins, corporate VP of corporate affairs, will retire in March, but the company insists that Sneed is taking a broader role and is not replacing Perkins. The company is has also had a number of layoffs in the marketing area. Recalls since 2009 have cost the company $1 billion in sales, the story says.

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Neel Khairzada has joined CNN as the publicist for correspondent Erin Burnett and her upcoming program. She spent the previous two years as a freelancer, most recently with The Dr. Oz Show, and has handled PR for SiriusXM Radio.

Allison & Partners has named Billee Howard creative development officer (CDO) and head of the firm’s newly formed Creativity Council. Howard joined the firm earlier this year as MD of its Brand Innovation Group. In this added role, she will lead the firm’s efforts in areas such as brand experience and the firm’s creative direction. The appointment is coupled with the launch of the firm’s Naked Culture blog. Allison & Partners has also named Tania Condon SVP of marketing. She’ll be working with the firm’s clients as well and work with agencies across MDC Partners on new business.

Beauty brand Carol’s Daughter has a new CMO, Olivia Scott-Perkins. She has previously worked at a string of advertising and media companies including Leo Burnett, Ogilvy Action, and Atlantic Records. She will be responsible for leading Carol’s Daughter through a brand repositioning that will move it into the luxury brand space. Social media, PR, marketing, and partnerships will be involved in that rebranding.

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Caryn Marooney, co-founder and CEO of The OutCast Agency, is joining Facebook in a newly-created position, director of technology communications, heading up outreach to engineers, technology influencers, bloggers, and other members of that community. She led the Facebook account for OutCast.

OutCast’s other co-founder, Margit Wennmachers, left the firm in June 2010 to join Andreesson Horowitz, a venture capital firm. The firm was sold to Next Fifteen for more than $10 million in 2005.

According to AllThingsD, Marooney has expressed confidence that “the firm was in good hands with its current team of top managers.” That team includes Alex Constantinople, partner and COO, who joined the firm just as it was rebranding late last year.

Margit Wennmachers, co-founder of Outcast Communications — a mid-size agency that handles high profile clients including Facebook and Yahoo — is leaving the agency to join venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz as a partner.

Reports Kara Swisher of AllThingsD, “The move will make her one of a handful of women at high-profile venture outfits.” Outcast co-founder Caryn Marooney will now run the agency, which was acquired by holding company Next Fifteen Communications in 2005.

UPDATE: PRNewser just spoke with Marooney, who said, “We are always looking for great smart people at every level, but we’re not looking to replace or add a partner at this time.” She also sees opportunity in the move. “Being close to the venture community is something we’ve always done. As long as we can provide the best service for [companies] it can definitely be a fun win win situation,” she said.

The agency continues to see growth, recently picking up work with online music portal Vevo. Facebook director of communications Brandee Barker is also very happy with the agency’s work. “Facebook loves Outcast,” she said this past November.

Andreessen Horowitz is an Outcast Communications client.