Roll Call: Ruder Finn, Rubenstein PR, APCO Worldwide, and More
Ruder Finn announced the hiring of two new executives in its Corporate practice. Christine Dusek returns to RF after seven years away; she brings more than 15 years of most recently held the position of corporate reputation/crisis management experience to her new role as EVP. Dusek most recently managed global communications for healthcare information/consulting company IMS Health. As EVP, she will drive global comms operations as well as developing existing talent and targeting new business opportunities.
Jon Vidar assumed the SVP position at Ruder Finn this summer. His work will span both the firm’s Corporate practice and its in-house digital agency RFI Studios, and he will also support the cause-based unit Ruder Finn Effect. Vidar founded his own agency, Uncharted Digital, in 2012 and remains its CEO; he also started the non-profit Tiziano Project, which serves “underrepresented communities across the Middle East, the U.S., Europe and Asia.”
New York’s Rubenstein Public Relations hired Donna Fontana as new managing director. In her most recent position, Fontana served as MD/VP of fellow New York firm K2 Public Relations; prior to assuming that role, she held the VP of PR position at Weight Watchers.
Fontana also spent more than five years with the Ketchum organization, rising to the rank of SVP and Group Manager of the firm’s brand practice. In her new role, she will work directly with President Richard Rubenstein to identify new business opportunities and oversee client service practices.
Derek Yach, former SVP of global health and agriculture at PepsiCo, joined APCO Worldwide’s Health Advisory Board today. A native South African, he established the Centre for Epidemiological Research at the South African Medical Research Council early in his career before serving in various executive roles at The World Health Organization, The Rockefeller Foundation, The World Economic Forum and, most recently, The Vitality Group. In his new role, Yach will join several other prominent officials in guiding APCO clients on health issues.
M&C Saatchi PR named industry veteran Steve Strickland as its new global creative director. Before joining the firm, Strickland served as senior creative at London-based firm Freud Communications for nearly three years. His previous roles include head of creativity at Weber Shandwick UK, senior account exec at Hill+Knowlton, and account manager at Weber/SLAM PR. At Saatchi, Strickland will focus on content creation for client campaigns. (PR Week)
