VALLEY FORGE, PA—Building materials company Saint-Gobain has named Carmen Ferrigno as vice president of communications, reporting to John Crowe, president and CEO of both Saint-Gobain and its largest North American subsidiary, CertainTeed Corporation. He will be responsible for all aspects of external and internal corporate communications, including crisis communications, reputation management and corporate social responsibility through the Saint-Gobain Corporation Foundation. Most recently he was director of global communications for a major division of Dow Chemical Company.

SOLON, OH—Jill Whelan has been named vice president, corporate communications at Swagelok Company, a provider of fluid system solutions. She succeeds Franziska Dacek, who is retiring, and will lead global communications, including corporate communications, marketing communications, e-business, and knowledge management. Whelan is a 16-year veteran of Swagelok, beginning in the supply chain group in 1995.

SILVER SPRING, MD—David Leavy has been promoted to the position of chief communications officer and senior executive vice president, corporate marketing and affairs at Discovery Communications, reporting to president and CEO David Zaslav. Leavy adds centralized marketing functions, including corporate research and consumer insights, media planning and partnerships, corporate marketing, and Discovery Creative, to his existing responsibilities for global communications and corporate affairs.

QUINCY, MA—Myriant Corporation, an industrial biotech company focused on the production of bio-based chemicals that substitute for petroleum-based chemicals, has appointed Susan Hager as senior vice president of corporate communications and government affairs, reporting directly to Stephen Gatto, chairman and chief executive officer. Hager has more than 17 years of experience and was most recently vice president of corporate communications and government affairs for Qteros.

COEUR D'ALENE, ID—Coeur d'Alene Mines Corporation has added Stefany Bales to its environment, health, safety and social responsibility team as director of corporate communications. Bales will serve as Coeur's primary spokeswoman and will be responsible for developing and managing all corporate communication efforts in the US and internationally. Prior to joining Coeur, she was vice president for Pac/West, a public relations and government affairs firm, and North Idaho regional director for US Senator Mike Crapo.

NEW YORK—Current TV has named Laura Nelson senior vice president, communications. Nelson will lead all public relations efforts for Current including corporate communications, internal communications, program publicity, and executive communications. She was previously managing director at The Gilbride Group, an independent communications consulting firm, where clients included NBC Universal, the United Nations Foundation, and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS Tuberculosis & Malaria. She has also worked at VH1, Oxygen, Comedy Central and Dan Klores Associates.

NEW HOPE, PA—Quepasa Corporation, owner of Latin American platform Quepasa and North American platform myYearbook, has appointed Robin Shallow as executive vice president, communications and public relations. Shallow will be responsible for the overall communications strategy, corporate branding, events, media relations and public relations for the company and will report to Geoff Cook, COO of Quepasa. Previously, Shallow served as executive vice president, communications for Rodale, parent company to media brands such as Men's Health, Prevention, and Runner's World.

ARLINGTON, VA—Aerospace and defense company ATK has named Amanda Covington vice president of corporate communications. Covington joined the company in 2008 as the director of communications for ATK Armament Systems in Utah. She will lead corporate communications operations impacting employee relations, media and public relations, financial communications, crisis communications, branding, advertising, digital media and community relations.