SEATTLE—Seth Oster has been named chief communications officer leading marketing and communications for Vulcan, the company founded and led by entrepreneur and philanthropist Paul Allen, and coordinating communication strategy between Vulcan and its affiliates. Oster previously served as managing director and chief communications officer for KPMG, the global financial services and consulting firm and was a presidential appointee in the Obama administration, serving as the top public affairs official for the US Environmental Protection Agency. He also held communications roles at the Motion Picture Association of America, Screen Actors Guild, Napster, and the American Film Institute.

WASHINGTON, DC—The Motion Picture Association of America has named Chris Ortman as vice president, corporate communications, and the association’s chief spokesperson. The role was previously held by Kate Bedingfield, who joined the office of Vice President Joe Biden as communications director in August. Ortman comes to the MPAA with more than 12 years of experience in politics, nonprofits, government, and public policy, recently holding the role of vice president of communications and corporate affairs at CreativeFuture. Previously, Ortman was a spokesman for the US Department of Homeland Security.

NEW YORK—Hilary Smith has been promoted to senior vice president, communications, for NBCUniversal entertainment and digital networks and integrated media. Smith, a 14-year veteran of the company, will oversee strategic communications and serve as the lead spokesperson for the division, which includes Telemundo, Oxygen Media, Television Without Pity and more. Most recently, Smith oversaw communications for E&DN/IM's digital businesses, Fandango, DailyCandy, iVillage and Television Without Pity.

LOS ANGELES— Kathryn Kranhold has been appointed UCLA's associate vice chancellor for university communications and marketing, reporting to vice chancellor for external affairs Rhea Turteltaub. Kranhold was a reporter for both the Wall Street Journal and Hartford Courant, and is currently an executive vice president in the Los Angeles office of Edelman. Previously she was senior vice president for corporate communications at Disney. 

PHOENIX—Avnet, a leading global technology distributor, has named Kevin Sellers to the newly created role of vice president of corporate marketing and communications, responsible for leading corporate branding strategy and awareness efforts, along with managing executive and employee communications, public relations, social media and Avnet’s digital presence. Sellers previously spent 23 years at Intel in a variety of leadership positions, including running global advertising creative and digital marketing teams. He also served as a managing director in the San Francisco office of Sard Verbinnen.

NEW YORK—The Interactive Advertising Bureau has named Dave Grimaldi as the trade organization’s new executive vice president of public policy and head of its Washington, DC, office, where he will spearhead the media and marketing association’s lobbying efforts in support of consumer privacy, data security, supply chain safety, advertising taxation, and other major issues. Grimaldi, currently director of public affairs for Pandora, will join IAB in January 2016. 

PHILADELPHIA—Delaware Investments has hired Daniela Palmieri as assistant vice president, senior corporate communications manager, responsible for leading internal and external communications including media relations, social media engagement, and employee communications. She reports to Marlene Petter, senior vice president, marketing and corporate communications. Palmieri most recently served as assistant vice president, strategic communications for Lincoln Financial Group’s insurance and retirement solutions business.