LOS ANGELES--DiGennaro Communications has expanded its operations with a new West Coast office, headed by former Cohn & Wolfe executive Alysha Walker.

Walker is named as VP and group account director of DGC West, which launches with an office in Santa Monica. She rejoins DiGennaro, after spending around eight months as VP of global communications and marketing at Cohn & Wolfe.

“Since building out our executive management team last year and expanding our service areas into content creation and consumer PR, we are thrilled to mark yet another significant milestone that will help us better respond to the localmarket needs and opportunities of our client partners," said DiGennaro founder and CEO Samantha DiGennaro.

"With the addition of an LA office, a UK presence, and the growth of our New York team, we continue to elevate our ability to deliver for the marketing, media, advertising, entertainment and tech sectors.”

In New York, meanwhile, DGC has hired Sally O’Dowd as VP and group account director, driving brand strategy for clients in the digital space. Most recently, O’Dowd served as engagement editor at MSLGroup in Paris.

The firm has also appointed Elkie Griffin as an account director in New York. Griffin joins from DraftFCB where she was corporate communications manager, leading internal and external communications for the New York office.

The expansion follows consistent growth at DGC. The firm recently formed a strategic partnership with London agency Eulogy to service the multinational PR needs of the media, marketing, entertainment and tech sectors.