CHICAGO—Marci Kaminsky has joined financial advisory firm Grant Thornton as chief communications officer, based in the firm’s Chicago headquarters. Kaminsky most recently served as senior vice president, corporate relations at The Allstate Corp., where she led a public relations department of more than 100 team members with responsibility for reputation leadership, public affairs, media relations, strategic business communications, crisis communications and issues management, and CEO communications. She has held leadership positions with Stryker Corp., United Airlines, USG, NutraSweet, and Quaker Oats.

OAK BROOK, IL—Delta Dental Plans Association, the nation's largest dental benefits provider, has named David Irwin as its new director of corporate communications. Irwin will focus on national media relations, social media efforts, message strategy, reputation management, and spearhead crisis communications for DDPA.  Most recently, he spent 12 years with AARP, developing key initiatives and innovative efforts to position the brand and tell its story across the nation. 

WALTHAM, MA—AMAG Pharmaceuticals, a specialty pharmaceutical company with a focus on maternal health, anemia and cancer supportive care, has hired Linda Lennox as vice president of investor relations and corporate communications, assuming the duties of Kathryn Carr Payne, who has been promoted to vice president of external affairs. Lennox previously served as senior director, investor relations and corporate communications at Lantheus Medical Imaging, and held similar roles at Critical Therapeutics and in the energy sector.

SAN DIEGO—Halozyme Therapeutics, a biotechnology company developing oncology and drug-delivery therapies, has appointed James Mazzola as vice president, corporate communications and investor relations, reporting to president and CEO Helen Torley. Mazzola will be responsible for communicating with all key stakeholders, including investors, employees, media, corporate partners, patients, clinicians and the scientific community. He was previously senior vice president of global marketing, communication and investor relations for CareFusion and earlier worked at Cardinal Health and Dell.

DEERFIELD, IL—CF Industries Holdings, a leader in nitrogen fertilizer manufacturing and distribution, has hired Chris Close as director, corporate communications, responsible for national and local media relations, community engagement and employee communications. Prior to joining CF Industries, Close was director, internal and executive communications, for Jones Lang LaSalle and earlier worked with The Allstate Corporation and BP

MONTREAL—Argex Titanium, an emerging producer of high-grade titanium dioxide, has hired Serge Depatie as VP, communications and investor relations. Most recently he served as CIO of NCP Investments Management and has experience in private equity roles in the mining and metallurgy sectors.

WASHINGTON, DC—Telecommunications company CenturyLink has named John Jones as senior vice president of public policy and government relations. Jones previously served as CenturyLink's vice president of public policy and federal legislative affairs.