WASHINGTON, DC—MSL Washington, DC, has appointed former Congressman Kenny Hulshof (R-MO) as senior advisor to its public affairs practice. The Congressman previously served on the House Ways & Means Committee where he presided over major healthcare, energy, tax, and trade issues. He will report to Neil Dhillon, managing director of MSL’s Washington office and will simultaneously retain his role as shareholder at national law firm Polsinelli Shughart.

NEW YORK—JeffreyGroup has appointed Claudia Mejia-Haffner as managing director of the agency’s New York office, where she will lead its US Hispanic practice and be responsible for managing clients including Buchanan’s, Clorox, Fox Hispanic Media, Johnnie Walker, Jose Cuervo, T-Mobile, UnitedHealth Group and Volkswagen. Previously, Mejia-Haffner was vice president of Axis, an Interpublic Group agency that focuses on US Hispanic and African American markets.

NEW YORK—Weber Shandwick’s digital practice has promoted Chris Vary to executive vice president, digital program innovation; Patrick Chaupham to senior vice president, digital operations; and Colin Moffett to senior vice president, digital content strategy. Each will join the firm's executive committee overseeing digital strategy and operations. These promotions come on the heels of the additions of Matt Dickman, who oversees the firm's social business practice development; Jim Paul, executive creative director; and Vanessa Muir Johnson, senior vice president of digital.

WASHINGTON, DC—Janet Robinson, until December president and CEO of The New York Times Company, has joined the international advisory board at Fleishman-Hillard. At The New York Times Company, Robinson was responsible for overseeing and coordinating all of the company's operations and business units and for working closely with the chairman to chart the future direction of the company. She began her career at the company in 1983 and served as the CEO for the past seven years.

LOS ANGELES—Gary Townsend has become a partner at Los Angeles public affairs firm Englander Knabe & Allen. Townsend recently retired as chief deputy assessor for Los Angeles County after 22 years, having worked for the last four assessors. His political experience goes as far back as 1964 when he worked for US Senator Barry Goldwater at the 1964 Republican National Convention and in 1968 as an elected delegate for US Senator Robert Kennedy at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. He also served as chief deputy to Los Angeles Councilman Mike Woo, district director for US Congressman Marty Martinez, and a political consultant on numerous candidate campaigns and local initiatives.

TORONTO—Fleishman-Hillard has named David Scott as senior vice president and partner. He also will serve as the national lead for the agency’s financial and investor communications team. The appointment marks a return to Fleishman-Hillard for Scott, who served from 2004 to 2008 in the firm’s Toronto office. Since that time, he had been leading his own successful financial communications firm. Other previous experience includes leading media efforts at Scotiabank, the Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations, the Council of Ontario Universities, York University and the Government of Ontario.

LOS ANGELES—Amy Levy Public Relations has added five new clients: Stacked Wines, a single-serve wine that comes in a glass of its own; Kugel Company, which brings classic noodle kugels to the frozen food aisle in grocery stores; Wrinkle Prevention Pillow, which claims to help keep skin young and healthy; the National Merchants Association, an advocacy group that helps businesses eliminate unnecessary credit card processing fees; and LA Beerathon, the bar-crawling marathon.