WASHINGTON, DC—Ketchum has named Christopher Handler senior vice president and director of its social marketing practice. Handler joined Ketchum in 2006 and over the past eight years has been a leader within the practice, serving most recently as senior vice president. He will report to Bill McIntyre, director of Ketchum’s Washington, DC, office. He replaces Christine Shreeve, who left Ketchum in February to join the Food & Drug Administration as director of the office of communications for the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation & Research.

WASHINGTON, DC—Global Strategy Group has hired Matt Canter as senior vice president. Canter has spent the last decade leading political campaigns across the country and directing communications strategy for governors, members of Congress, and US Senators, most recently as a top official at the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. In addition, Kate Hansen has come on board as vice president, communications from FWD.us, an advocacy organization in the tech community; and John Cipriani as director, research, having most recently worked for the chief strategy officer at Microsoft.

NEW YORK— The CHR Group, a New York-based integrated marketing services holding company and parent of Tylon SMR, has appointed Jonathan Zaback president of its newly formed communications and brand marketing division, which includes public relations, public affairs, media and crisis training, brand marketing, content marketing, multi-cultural, social media and market research businesses. Zaback will maintain his current role and responsibilities as CHR’s chief strategy officer.

TORONTO—Hill+Knowlton Canada has added Jason MacDonald and Susan Schutta as vice presidents in the firm’s Ottawa and Toronto offices. MacDonald joins H+K from the Prime Minister’s Office, where he was director of communications and chief spokesperson for Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Schutta was most recently a senior director at Walmart Canada where she helped lead media relations, social media strategy, employee programs, brand launches and corporate social responsibility initiatives.

BOSTON—PAN Communications has hired Lauren Arnold and Darlene Doyle as vice presidents in the technology and healthcare practices. Arnold was most recently vice president at MSLGroup in Boston where she worked with technology and healthcare companies. Doyle was most recently a vice president at Version 2.0 Communications and earlier was a VP of corporate communications at Sonicbids and director of marketing at ZoomInfo.