SAN FRANCISCO—Verizon Communications has appointed Eric Fitzgerald Reed as head of public policy initiatives with the high-tech and entertainment industries. Reed joined Verizon's federal regulatory group in 2000 and in 2006 became vice president of market issues and policy in the company's public affairs, policy and communications organization. In his new role, Reed will be based in San Francisco.

BALTIMORE—International election technology solutions provider Scytl has hired Michelle Shafer to lead the communications and government affairs initiatives. Shafer will be leading the branding, marketing, government affairs and communications initiatives for Scytl's US operations. She has experience with internet voting and electronic blank ballot delivery systems through her work as a subject matter expert for US Department of Defense contractor CALIBRE Systems.

JACKSONVILLE, FL—Corporate Traffic Logistics, a third-party logistics provider, has named former client relations executive Lisa Diaz to a new position as director of corporate communications, responsible for ensuring that the Corporate Traffic brand is communicated and strengthened among the company’s various internal and external audiences. Diaz has been with the company for three years.