TRACKING INFLUENCERS IN SEPTEMBER 2021

Acumen Public Affairs: Brittney Elzarei is now sustainability account director, while Rodrigo Vaz is a sustainability consultant. Silvia Romeo and Ingeborg Bennink are EU health consultants. Enrica Obizzi is an EU health account manager. And David Malka is the new CFO.

APCO Worldwide: Former Irish Ambassador Declan Kelleher has joined APCO Worldwide as a senior adviser.

BCW Brussels: BCW Brussels has appointed Dan Sobovitz as senior adviser for digital communications. He was previously a speechwriter and digital communications strategist for European Commission Vice President Maroš Šefčovič. Michal Nycz is joining BCW as tech director on the firm’s Brussels tech and digital economy team.

Brunswick: Micaela Duffau has joined Brunswick’s competition and antitrust practice as a director. He joins from Fipra. Brandt has joined Brunswick as a director.  Francesca Scassellati Sforzolini has joined Brunswick Group as a partner in Brussels, focusing on the health care and life sciences sector. Meanwhile, Agnes Brandt has joined Brunswick as a director. Both previously worked at Incisive Health.

Cefic: Daniel Witthaut joins Cefic as the new executive director for the innovation team.

Centre for Democracy & Technology: Asha Allen has joined the Centre for Democracy & Technology, Europe as advocacy director for online expression & civic space.

Cytiva: John Clarke has recently left Portland Communications to join Cytiva as director of government affairs and policy, Europe.

Ecocem Group: Former European Parliament President Pat Cox is now chair of Ecocem Group.

Edelman: Felix van den Broeck has joined the health care team at Edelman as a senior account executive. He previously worked at Kreab.

Eurofound: Communications expert Ian McCafferty is leaving his role as head of social media at the Commission’s agriculture department to join EU employment policy agency Eurofound as publishing and production manager.

EuropaBio: Seán Byrne has recently joined EuropaBio as a healthcare biotech manager.

Ferring (a pharmaceutical company specialized in reproductive and maternal health), has hired Jean-Louis Roux as its new head of public policy and advocacy for Europe. He previously worked at BioMarin.

Finsbury Glover Hering: René Gribnitz will join Finsbury Glover Hering as a partner in October. He was previously vice president for communications at Zalando. Former MEP Irina von Wiese has joined the European government relations, policy and advocacy team at Finsbury Glover Hering in Brussels as senior adviser

FoodDrink Europe: Mella Frewen will step down as director general of FoodDrinkEurope at the end of this year, after nearly 15 years at the helm of the association.

GSMA (Mobile telecoms): GSMA has appointed Rita de Castro as director of public policy. She previously worked at the European Commission’s DG CONNECT.

Hague Corporate Affairs: Ed Kronenburg, a former ambassador, has joined Hague Corporate Affairs as an associate partner.

Hanbury Strategy: Finn Meunier, formerly a senior policy adviser at the German Insurance Association, is moving to Hanbury Strategy, where he will be in charge of financial services.

Hill+Knowlton Strategies: Hill + Knowlton Strategies has appointed Carmen Bell as a director in Brussels

Imperial Brands: Valerio Forconi is leaving his role as head of EU corporate affairs at Imperial Brands.

Instinctif Partners: Instinctif Partners has appointed David Gauke as a senior public policy adviser. 

Kekst CNC (Strategic Communications Consultancy): Former EU Employment Commissioner and Greek Minister Anna Diamantopoulou has joined the global advisory board of Kekst CNC. Other members of the board include Wolfgang Ischinger, chairman of the Munich Security Conference and former European Commissioner Günther Oettinger.

Ketchum Brussels: Ketchum Brussels has hired Jessica Brobald as head of EU public affairs and advocacy.

King & Spalding: King & Spalding has launched a competition practice in Brussels with the hire of Salomé Cisnal de Ugarte from Hogan Lovells.

Kreab: Alexis Germon, Kelsey Paulding and Martin Wilberg have all been promoted to directors. Meanwhile, Lionel Ameis, Arend Bolle, Angelika Karpa, Witold Strzelecki and Camilla Tamburini have joined the firm’s sustainability team.

Lanxess: German chemicals company LANXESS has named Thomas Richter as its new head of EU representation in Brussels. He previously worked for Avisa Partners.

Lightsource bp (Solar Developer): Lightsource has appointed Francisco Beirão as its head of government affairs for Europe. He was previously head of the Portuguese utility Energias de Portugal’s Brussels office

Red Flag: Red Flag has promoted Kevin Hiney and Sonia Staicu to account directors, while also promoting Marius Nicolescu to senior account manager. Meanwhile, the firm has hired Jakub Szymik as account director, Elliot Tricot O’Farrell as an account manager and Grace Carter as an account executive.

Recharge (The Advanced Rechargeable & Lithium Batteries Association): Kinga Timaru-Kast is now director for public affairs & communications at RECHARGE. She joins from EUFORES, the European Forum for Renewable Energy Sources.

Rud Pedersen: Daniel Dalton, an ex-British MEP and former chief executive of the British Chamber of Commerce in Brussels, has joined Rud Pedersen as a senior advisor in the firm’s technology practice.

Savion Ray: Savian Ray has hired Aleksandar Boceski as business development director. The firm has also promoted Oriana Gomes to creative director and Daniel Phillips to senior account executive.

Solvay: Marcel Halma has joined Solvay as Vice President for government affairs. A former Dutch diplomat, Halma previously worked for AkzoNobel and Nouryon.

#SustainablePublicAffairs: Alex Braley will become a senior consultant. Mariana Goulart and Carlijn Torenbeek are also set to become junior consultants. Meanwhile, Anna Gumbau will become a part-time communications strategist.

Transparency International EU:  Beatrice Albertini is now an executive assistant. Shari Hinds is now a political integrity assistant and Lucia Posteraro has been appointed a communications and editorial assistant.

UNESDA Soft Drinks Europe: Delphine Close has joined UNESDA Soft Drinks Europe as its new EU policy manager responsible for all sustainability files. She joins from Grayling.

The European Third Party Providers Association: The European Third Party Association has appointed Padraig Nolan as their new chief operating officer.