SAN FRANCISCO—FTI Consulting has appointed John Franklin as managing director and head of the telecom, media & technology industry practice in North America. Franklin brings more than 20 years of experience in reputation management, brand building, financial communications, and crisis management to FTI Consulting. He previously held senior roles at The Abernathy MacGregor Group, RLM Finsbury and SS+K, working with clients such as Dell, HP, Nextel (currently Sprint), Microsoft and Yahoo!

LOS ANGELES—Step 3, a public relations, community and social media agency, has added Rick Jennings as executive vice president, overseeing the consumer PR practice and leading business development activities. Jennings is a 19-year PR veteran with expertise in digital entertainment, video games, lifestyle branding, and crisis communications. Prior to joining Step 3, Jennings spent eight years heading up PMK*BNC’s consumer media practice and developing the firm’s new business strategy.

SACRAMENTO—Suanne Buggy has joined the Sacramento office of Ogilvy PR West as vice president, providing healthcare experience to clients including the California's Health Benefit Exchange, Covered California. Buggy joins Ogilvy PR with nearly 15 years’ experience in public policy, healthcare and foreign affairs. Most recently she was the senior communications officer for the California HealthCare Foundation and previously she served as an assistant secretary in the California Health and Human Services Agency and department deputy director in the California Department of Public Health.

NEW YORK—Peppercomm has promoted Sam Ford to director of audience engagement. Ford has been with the agency since 2008 and currently focuses on the intersection between brands and audiences, developing and delivering content across multiple platforms. In addition, Richard Ouyang has been named director of digital, leading the firm's digital service team, and Matt Purdue has been elevated to director of content strategy.

NEW YORK—Willie Norkin has joined MWW as vice president. A gourmet food and restaurant industry expert, Norkin has worked major culinary, wine and spirits and premium consumer brands, and will counsel clients across the firm’s food and restaurant practice and in the luxury lifestyle category. Prior to joining MWW, Norkin served as vice president of the culinary and spirits division at Susan Magrino Agency where she provided counsel to clients including Gordon Ramsay, Russian Standard/Imperia Vodka and Louis XIII de Rémy Martin.

TORONTO—National Public Relations has promoted two employees in its growing Toronto office. Maricel Dicion was promoted to senior consultant, technology, after joining National in 2011. She manages the day-to-day event planning, media and analyst relations work as well as leadership in planning and account management. Noor Marzook was promoted to senior consultant, marketing, after joining National in 2012, and has served as day-to-day lead on several high profile accounts.

PORTLAND, OR—Liquid Agency has added Terri Nopp as client director, working in the agency’s office in Portland, Ore, and managing relationships with clients including Intel and Microsoft. Nopp’s experience includes leadership roles at such firms as TNT Communications, Edelman, and MacKenzie Kesselring. She also served as president of Online Newsroom, an agency that blends PR, visual storytelling, publishing and provided measurement of content effectiveness.

CORAL GABLES, FL—Cheryl Andrews Marketing Communications has promoted Holly Zawyer to the position of vice president. She will continue to serve as the strategic leader of several travel accounts and manage daily operations while expanding her role within the company, taking greater responsibly in new business development and client relations. Zawyer, who has been with the company since 2004, was most recently senior account supervisor and director of strategic development.