FORT WORTH: AMR, the parent company of American Airlines, has promoted William Ris to SVP of government affairs. Based in Bethesda, MD, Ris has led American’s Washington lobbying and public affairs programs since 1996. His duties have been expanded to include supervision of state and local government affairs efforts. An experienced government attorney, Ris worked 13 years with The Wexler Group before joining American.
FORT WORTH: AMR, the parent company of American Airlines, has
promoted William Ris to SVP of government affairs. Based in Bethesda,
MD, Ris has led American’s Washington lobbying and public affairs
programs since 1996. His duties have been expanded to include
supervision of state and local government affairs efforts. An
experienced government attorney, Ris worked 13 years with The Wexler
Group before joining American.
DALLAS: Former Hill & Knowlton exec Gary Weitman has taken over PR for
Allied Riser Communications (ARC), which provides high-speed data
services to small- and medium-sized businesses. Weitman, formerly a
senior managing director of media relations in H&K’s Chicago office, has
been charged with overseeing all of ARC’s internal and external
communications.
NEW YORK: G.S. Schwartz & Co. has hired Libby Roberge as a VP in its
consumer group. Roberge, formerly VP of media relations at Porter, LeVay
& Rose, will direct programs for The Direct Marketing Association and
Beiersdorf’s Curad brand bandages. Previously, she served as PR director
at the Private Label Manufacturers Association and at the Omnicom-owned
Interbrand Gerstman + Meyers.
REDWOOD SHORES, CA: Miller/Shandwick Technologies has announced the
addition of former Levi Strauss public affairs pro David Weiskopf as an
account director in its Silicon Valley office. A former environmental
lawyer, Weiskopf will lead such key agency accounts as Informix and
Vadem.
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA: Online superstore Value America has named Kimberly
McCreery Kuo senior VP of investor relations. She was most recently
director of communications at America Online, and previously served as
assistant press secretary for Sen. Bob Dole during his 1996 presidential
campaign.
NEW YORK: Porter Novelli has named Barry Leggetter EVP and global
strategy leader for the firm’s global Gillette business. He joins the NY
office from Countrywide Porter Novelli, where he served as MD of the
London office. The firm has also landed dollars 6 million in new dot-com
and consumer technology clients, including Gobi and FirstStreet.com.
NEW YORK: The Publicity Club of New York will continue its ’Meet the
Media’ luncheon series on Tuesday, November 16 with ’Working With the
Multicultural Media.’ Panelists are scheduled to include Sylvia
Martinez, executive editor of Latina Magazine. For more information,
contact Lisa Kovitz at (212) 413-0519.
SAN FRANCISCO: Hill & Knowlton has shored up its California operations
with a series of promotions. In the firm’s San Francisco office, Kevin
Elliott and Mary Hancock were named senior managing directors of the
corporate practice, and Nancy Buono Cartwright was promoted to the post
of senior managing director for the Northern California media relations
practice. In Sacramento, Tracy Campbell was named senior managing
director of the firm’s healthcare practice.
