NEW YORK—GCI Health has appointed David Chadwick as vice president of digital health. He will focus on leading development of digital initiatives across accounts, while serving as a specialist for the evolving landscape of digital activity in the healthcare arena. Chadwick joins GCI Health after more than five years at Ruder Finn, where he served as senior healthcare digital strategist. Earlier in his career, Chadwick worked in the public affairs and communications department of Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago.

NEW YORK—MSLGroup has appointed Carolyn Samuel (pictured) as a global client engagement director, responsible for ensuring quality client experiences around the world for one of the firm’s leading accounts and becoming a senior leader in the global consumer practice. Previously, she was practice leader and board director for the marketing communications division of Hill+Knowlton Strategies in London. She also worked for several years at Ketchum’s New York office.

SAN FRANCISCO—Debra Raine has joined Horn Group as principal, based out of its San Francisco office and responsible for all West Coast office operations as well as international business. Most recently, Raine was principal with BondPR Worldwide, which she joined in 2010 following the acquisition of Rainemakers, the PR firm she founded in 2008. Previously Raine has held executive roles at global PR agencies including Waggener Edstrom, Weber Shandwick, and Porter Novelli.

WASHINGTON, DC—Purple Strategies has hired Chris Kofinis as managing director of strategic insights and Mike Lake as managing director and head of public relations. Kofinis has worked as a Democratic strategist, campaign consultant, communications, and strategic advisor to major corporations, and as the chief of staff to US Senator Joe Manchin III. He was also the communications director and chief strategist for the 2005 to 2007 "WakeUp Wal-Mart" labor campaign. Lake was principal and co-founder of the strategic communications firm HudsonLake and earlier spent 13 years at Burson-Marsteller.

BOSTON—Rasky Baerlein Strategic Communications has promoted senior vice presidents George Cronin and Justine Griffin, and Jim Cabot to managing directors and shareholders. Cronin joined RBSC in 1997 and has managed and grown RBSC’s state public affairs practice. Griffin, who joined the firm in 2004, heads the issues management practice at RBSC. Cabot, who directs the energy, life sciences and technology practice, came to RBSC in 2006.

MONTREAL—Doris Juergens, a 25-year veteran with National Public Relations, has been appointed to the newly-created position of vice-president, strategy. She will contribute to developing and implementing strategic programs and initiatives to support the firm's ongoing growth in areas such as talent management, client relations, national committees and National's strategic positioning. She joined National in 1990 and has been a partner since 1997.

LOS ANGELES—Mike Jackson, a 30-year marketing and advertising executive, has been appointed to the new role of president of Phelps, the West Coast’s largest independent integrated marketing communications agency. Jackson is a former vice president of marketing and advertising for General Motors North America where he was responsible for a $3.3 billion marcom budget. Prior to that, he served in senior level sales and marketing posts at Coors Brewing, PepsiCo and Coca-Cola.

NEW YORK—Cognito, a public relations and marketing agency for the financial services sector, has named Rishi Sharma as senior account manager in its New York office. Sharma joins Cognito from FTSE, where he managed PR, marketing and client communications in North America. Prior to his role at FTSE, he worked for Duff & Phelps, a global financial advisory and investment banking firm.

MINNEAPOLIS—Karwoski & Courage Public Relations has hired David Erickson as its new VP, online marketing. Erickson most recently served on Tunheim Partners’ “ACE Panel” of external consultants by providing strategic counsel to the agency and before that was director of e-strategy for Tunheim.

VIENNA, VA—Former PGA of America CEO Joe Steranka has joined Buffalo Communications as chief global strategist to expand the firm’s leadership position in golf and to drive growth in the broader sports and lifestyle categories. Buffalo currently manages strategy, public relations, branding, marketing-communications, social media and creative services for clients in sports, travel, hospitality, real estate, fashion and luxury brands segments. After seven years leading the PGA, Steranka resigned in 2012 to spend more time with family and serve several non-profit organizations.