SAN FRANCISCO: Pinterest has hired former StumbleUpon director of communications Mike Mayzel as its partner communications manager.
Mayzel started in the role on Monday, reporting to Barry Schnitt, Pinterest’s head of communications and public policy. He has replaced former partner communications manager Annie Ta, who has transitioned to the role of product manager for ads at the company.
Mayzel’s responsibilities include managing Pinterest’s overall communications strategy, working closely with the partner and product teams on PR for product launches, and overseeing evergreen campaigns for partners that are using the platform, he said.
"Partners and businesses are an important part of Pinterest, and we want to make sure we are spreading the word and letting businesses know Pinterest is a great place for them to be discovered and a great place to contribute content," Mayzel explained. "We also want to let them know about the products that are available to them to get the most out of Pinterest."
Mayzel joined Pinterest from The Pramana Collective, where he was the firm’s first executive in residence since February. In April, Pramana took on Pinterest as a client and Mayzel acted as a consultant for the company, helping with the strategy and launch of its monetization and ad products, along with partner communications.
"[Pramana had agreed that] if there was a company that was a good fit for me and the company felt the same way, I could move on and work with them," Mayzel said about his role at Pramana, which was slated to end in August. "[The new role] is a logical fit for me, based on my background and experience."
Schnitt noted Pramana has turned the "draconian anti-poaching clause" included in most PR agency contracts on its head, creating a "compelling incentive" for talented staffers to work for it and a "unique value proposition" for clients.
Former Skype global comms chief Brian O'Shaughnessy, one of Pramana’s cofounders, wrote in a blog post on Monday that the firm is "proud" of Mayzel’s move to Pinterest. He added that the consultancy will continue its executive-in-residence program.
A representative from Pramana was not immediately available for comment.
Prior to Pramana, Mayzel was StumbleUpon’s director of communications. He previously worked at Google, where he was responsible for communications, sales, and partner development. Before that, he managed marketing communications at Elance, a platform for freelancers. Mayzel has also worked as director of PR for Engage and in roles at Porter Novelli and Technology Solutions.
