CHARLOTTE, NC —Ryan Mucatel, a 20-year industry vet, will join MWWPR as head of its new esports division. Mucatel, who joins from Taylor, will be formally titled executive VP and esports practice head. He will be co-general manager of the agency’s new Charlotte office with Joe Flores, who is executive VP of the larger sports practice that launched in May.

NEW YORK —Patricia Figueroa has joined Gladstone Place Partners as a senior VP.  Figueroa (pictured) joins the firm from Arconic, where she served as the head of investor relations since it launched as a stand-alone company after its separation from Alcoa in 2016,

MIAMI — Ander & Co. has hired Giovanna Maselli as an account executive. Maselli joins Ander & Co following nearly a decade as a journalist with CBSMiami. In her previous role as a senior web producer and content curator, she wrote and reported on local and national stories, ranging from hard news to features.

MIAMI — Schwartz Media Strategies has added four professionals to its team. Jaclyn Messina, Kelly Magee, Lucas Seiler and Victoria Cela have been tapped to bolster the firm’s growing professional services, public affairs and real estate practices. They will counsel a client roster that includes Walmart, JLL, The Florida Bar, Skanska USA, the Miami Downtown Development Authority and law firm Bilzin Sumberg.

WASHINGTON — Trident DMG has hired Alexander Lange as director, Keegan Bales as senior account manager and Caroline Beckmann and Matthew Stone as account managers.  Lange, Bales and Beckmann  were previously at LEVICK. Stone previously interned at the Obama White House, Democratic National Committee, and West Wing Writers. All four bring collective expertise in public relations, crisis communications, media relations, thought leadership and speechwriting.