BOSTON — Avenir Global has made National PR’s Rick Murray managing partner of sister agency Shift Communications.

Murray has spent the last five years in the Toronto office of Avenir’s National PR, serving as managing partner and chief digital strategist of that operation. During that time, the Toronto office more than doubled its business.

Murray will be based in  Shift’s Boston headquarters, and will continue working with the Avenir network’s Canadian clients including TELUS, Keurig Dr. Pepper, Deloitte and FIGR.

“Rick has helped transform our business in Toronto, and been a real champion of greater integration and collaboration across our network,” said Avenir Global president & CEO Jean-Pierre Vasseur. “Shift is one of Avenir Global’s crown jewels and core to our U.S. growth strategy, and we’re delighted to have Rick’s passion and drive at the agency’s helm.”