Cadbury Schweppes Americas -- How refreshing. Charles Alfaro (ex-Hoffman-La Roche Inc) has been appointed to the newly created position of VP/corporate communications for the
Cadbury Schweppes confectionary and beverage businesses in the Americas. In addition to communications initiatives Alfaro is also responsible for financial PR activities in the
U.S...Contact: Mike Martin 972.673.8470
Financial Dynamics -- Solid investment. Neil Dhillon (ex-Hill and Knowlton) has been tapped as National Director of Public Affairs, North America. Prior to joining Hill and
Knowlton Dhillon served as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Government Affairs at the U.S. Department of Transportation and as chief of staff to Representative Robert Matsui (D-
CA)...Contact: Stephanie Sampiere, 212.850.5741.
Fleishman-Hillard -- Reunited and it feels so good. The agency's Government Relations practice has added to the mix veteran Washington lobbyist Rob Housman, who joins the
agency after launching two homeland security consultancies. Housman will work closely with his former mentor Gen. Barry McCaffrey (U.S. Army Ret.), who co-chairs the firm's
homeland security practice... Contact: Larry LaRocco, 202.551.1440.
Hill and Knowlton -- You can go home again. Don Meyer returns to the fold as VP/in the corporate practice of the firm's Washington, D.C., office. Meyer is back with Hill and
Knowlton after three years with the Bush administration as a Special Assistant for Communications Strategy in the public affairs office of Secretary of Defense Don Rumsfeld, where
he served as an aide to former Pentagon spokeswoman Torie Clarke. Meyer was previously a senior account supervisor with H&K, serving Fortune 500 clients in the high-tech,
commercial airline and communications industries...Contact: Lily Loh, 212.885.0430 ...Meanwhile, company veteran Tony Burgess-Webb gets the nod as Hill and Knowlton's Chief
Marketing Officer; he'll report to Paul Taafee, chairman-CEO, and will be based in London.
Hyundai Motor America -- Good mileage. Chris Hosford has been promoted to executive director of Corporate Communications, CEO Robert "Bob" Cosmai recently announced. Hosford
will be responsible for government relations, dealer communications and diversity, on top of corporate and product media relations. He'll also drive communications for Hyundai's
first U.S. manufacturing plant, Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama, which will open in March 2005...Contact: Kevin Oates, 310.584.8331.
ITV -- Homeward bound. Brigitte Trafford, who was the chief spokeswoman for Dow Jones & Co., is heading back to her native London to lead communications at ITV, the largest
commercial television network in Great Britain. Trafford takes on the PR helm just as ITV reviews its senior management team following the merger last year of U.K. broadcasters
Carlton and Granada, which formed ITV.
Ketchum -- Westworld. Dave Chapman (ex-Burson-Marsteller) has joined the firm as director of Ketchum West (comprised of the agency's San Francisco and Los Angeles offices).
He'll be responsible for day-to-day operations and will work closely with partner/managing director Sean Fitzgerald on the overall PR strategy for the region. Contact: Gerilyn
Rodgers, 646.935.3915.
Manning Selvage & Lee -- Charles Alston (ex-Democratic Leadership Council, or DLC) has joined the firm as senior VP for strategic and creative development in MS&L's
Northeast region, which includes the firm's Washington, Boston, New York and Toronto offices. Since 1993 Alston has held senior roles with the DLC as well as its affiliated think
tank, the Progressive Policy Institute (PPI). He replaces Brian Gaudet, who left the firm to create his own consultancy...Contact: Allison Ross, 212.468.3886.
Schubert Communications -- Chris Henneghan, who joined the b-to-b agency in 1988, has been promoted to PR director. Henneghan ensures that the firm's PR programs are aligned
with other client advertising programs...Contact: Jackie Zima, 610.269.2100 X232.
Tiller LLC -- Susan Bishop (ex-U.S. Trust/Textron) has joined the New York-based advocacy marketing and communications company. Aside from stints at U.S. Trust and Textron,
Bishop was also PR manager and director of PR at John Hancock Funds in Boston...Contact: Tiller LLC founder Rob Densen, 212.727.1626.