LOS ANGELES—Englander Knabe & Allen, an independent public relations agency based in Los Angeles, has hired Jaime de la Vega as a senior vice president to lead its growing transportation and infrastructure practice. Prior to joining EKA, de la Vega held a number of senior level transportation positions in local government, including general manager of the Los Angeles Department of Transportation; Deputy Mayor for Transportation at the City of Los Angeles; and director of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

NEW YORK—Burson-Marsteller has appointed Catherine Sullivan as managing director, worldwide communications. Sullivan will manage the firm’s external and internal communications initiatives, based in Burson’s worldwide headquarters in New York and reporting to Don Baer, worldwide chair and CEO. Sullivan most recently served as director of communications at Porter Novelli. Before joining Porter Novelli, Sullivan was editorial director at MS&L New York.

NEW YORK—FleishmanHillard has appointed Emily Shapoff to its New York team as vice president, brand marketing, specializing in lifestyle and fashion integration. Shapoff has worked with fashion and beauty clients, including Old Navy, Omega, Jill Stuart, Kmart, Victoria's Secret PINK, Jockey Sport, bebe and L'Oréal Paris. Shapoff joined Fleishman from Alison Brod Public Relations where she led the fashion division.

BOSTON—Allison+Partners has named Alan Weatherbee as senior vice president of talent search responsible for driving US and global talent acquisition, based in Boston. Previously, Weatherbee served as vice president, human resources at Cone Communications, where he managed talent acquisition as well as all aspects of the HR function. Before Cone, he was director of recruitment for IPG agencies GolinHarris, Weber Shandwick and Rogers & Cowan in Los Angeles.

TAMPA—Fetching Communications, a PR and marketing agency for the pet and veterinary industries, has promoted Meredith Schneider to associate director, client service. Schneider joined Fetching in 2012 as an account executive. In her new role, she will lead a variety of Fetching Communications’ pet and veterinary clients including the Center for Animal Referral and Emergency Services, PetSafe, Emergency Animal Clinic of Arizona and PetMatrix.

NEW YORK—Nancy J. Friedman Public Relations, a specialist in travel and hospitality, has launched a new social media division and hired Kristin Heise, previously social media and community manager for the pop culture event division at Reed Exhibitions, as social media strategist. The new division will be overseen by recently appointed managing director Chris Walters.

DALLAS—GolinHarris has promoted Jacqi Moore Richardson, a 10-year veteran with the agency. to director of the Dallas consumer practice, leading work for clients such as PetSmart.