NEWBURYPORT, MA—Matter Communications, specializing in technology and consumer markets, has appointed Parry Headrick as vice president of marketing and communications. In a newly created role, Headrick will work with agency leaders to attract new clients and assist with the new business process. Headrick spent much of the last decade as a director and vice president of marketing at Shift Communications in San Francisco, and more recently was senior director of communications for Calypso Communications.

NEW YORK—Cooney/Waters Group has hired Anita Bose as chief strategist, with responsibility for leading business development initiatives, broadening service offerings across the companies, and working with agency leadership to identify and develop client opportunities. She previously held leadership positions at MSLGroup and Cohn & Wolfe, and most recently she was VP of external communications for inVentiv Health. The group also promoted Lisa Weiss to EVP/group director, and Julia Jackson to EVP.

NEW YORK—Nancy J. Friedman Public Relations has hired Chris Walters as associate director. Walters was previously public relations director at the Essex House on Central Park South and brings more than a decade of experience in travel, hospitality, entertainment, dining, nightlife and consumer goods. In addition, Maria Coder, a career journalist, most recently public relations manager with FreshDirect, has joined NJFPR as media relations specialist.

CHICAGO—Zapwater Communications has added Alana Horinko as vice president. Horinko will oversee a number of the agency’s consumer clients, while playing a key role managing internal staff development.  She previously served as group manager at Weber Shandwick, where she led consumer public relations and influencer initiatives for clients, including the got milk? campaign, Campbell Soup Company and The Cherry Marketing Institute.

NEW YORK—Financial public relations firm Dukas Public Relations has promoted Zach Leibowitz to vice president. In his new position, he will take a more active role in the firm’s management and business development, while also working to expand the suite of DPR’s broadcast services. Leibowitz joined DPR in January 2010 after working at Fox Business Network as a segment producer and talent booker.