Roll Call: Best Buy's new PR SVP, Atomic & Elasticity have new offices

Matthew Furman (left) has joined Best Buy as SVP of comms and public affairs, managing all PR, executive communications, community relations, and other areas. Furman joins from Mars Chocolate where he was on the management team and served as VP of corporate affairs. Best Buy has hit hard times: CEO Brian Dunn recently resigned, the company reported a 26 percent drop in profits for the fiscal first quarter, and while revenue and adjusted earnings numbers topped expectations, same store numbers fell more than five percent. Interim CEO, G. "Mike" Mikan, has stepped in and will receive millions in pay. "It's time to change the story about Best Buy," Furman said in a statement. "Time to help employees, shareholders, partners and customers understand that this company's leadership knows what needs to be done to come out of this turnaround well equipped to win in the evolving marketplace." Atomic has added a new Orange County office to its list of outposts, bringing the total number of office locations to 47. Krys Card Grondorf, a VP with the firm, and Jennifer Olson, a firm director, will lead the new office. They'll also get support from the Los Angeles office, which has 18 staffers. St. Louis-based Elasticity has opened a Chicago office, which will be led by David Vislosky. This is the firm's first office outside of St. Louis. Elasticity clients include H&R Block, startup Aisle50, and the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. Pat Sloan, previously the SVP and corporate director of public affairs and PR for DDB Worldwide, has launched her own firm, Sloan Hunt Communications. Specialties include crisis and reputation management, media relations, and event planning. Clients include We Are Social and Brodeur Partners. [via] Lambert, Edwards & Associates has named Andrew Heller senior director of the healthcare practice. He'll also play a major role in the firm's Detroit office. Heller joins from the Early Childhood Investment Corporation where he was the director of media, communications, and social media. He also had a 30-year career as a reporter. Debra Silimeo has been promoted to EVP of Washington D.C.'s Hager Sharp. She's been with the firm for 10 years. She's been a leader of the firm's education practice, has worked with two Senate leaders, and is a former reporter.

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Roll Call: Best Buy's new PR SVP, Atomic & Elasticity have new offices

Tonya Garcia

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