WASHINGTON, DC—MWW has named Marilyn Berry Thompson (pictured) non-executive chairman of the company’s Washington, DC, office. Thompson, who joined the firm five years ago and has until recently served as its executive vice president and general manager, will continue to provide senior strategic counsel to the office and will actively manage several of its clients. She specializes in higher education, health, state and local economic development and corporate representation and previously ran her own private practice and headed the State of New Jersey’s Washington office.

TORONTO—National Public Relations has added Hillary Marshall as vice president of the financial communications practice in Toronto. She has held leading communication roles within the TMX Group, Hudson’s Bay Company, and Direct Energy, where she led a large team working across North America and was responsible for the communications for a series of acquisitions made by the company. 

MINNEAPOLIS—Gage has added Steve Solmonson as management supervisor, leading the firm’s new public relations team. Most recently, Solmonson was a media relations strategist with Carmichael Lynch Spong, where he worked on clients including Trane and other Ingersoll Rand brands. Prior to joining Carmichael Lynch Spong, he spent 10 years with Carlson Companies, primarily in its marketing group.

BOSTON—Washington, DC-based JPA Health Communications has added Catherine Brady to its office in Massachusetts as a vice president. Brady has more than 15 years of experience in public relations, most recently serving as a senior manager of communications at Pfizer in its US primary care business. Earlier in her career, Brady worked in corporate communications at Tufts Health Plan.

NASHVILLE, TN—Ben Baden, a former US News & World Report editor and reporter and senior communications and publications manager at the US-China Business Council, has joined McNeely Pigott & Fox Public Relations as an account executive. At the Washington, D.C.-based trade association, he edited the council’s member newsletter, assisted with media outreach and helped manage social media accounts.