NEW YORK—PROI Worldwide has appointed six executives to extend global crisis communications best practices for clients around the globe. Caroline Duffy, a founding partner of Jackson Spalding, Atlanta, was named chairman of the Americas Crisis Group with Andy Likes, senior vice president for The Vandiver Group, St Louis, as vice-chairman. Marcel Trachsel, managing partner of int/ext Communications, Switzerland, was named vhairman of the EMEA Crisis Group, with Tobias Muller, managing partner for Klenk and Hoursch, Germany, as vice-chairman. Lena Soh, managing partner for Huntington Communications, Singapore, was named chairman of the Asia-Pacific Crisis Group, with Neil Green, chief executive officer for SenateSHJ, Australia and New Zealand as vice-chair.

LONDON—SERMO, the global lifestyle and luxury communications network has signed two new agency partners: Amsterdam-based boutique lifestyle agency Dijksman Communicatie in The Netherlands and LA-based Bollare, a beauty and fashion agency with speciality in celebrity relations. Founded in 2008, Dijksman has created and managed campaigns for brands including Havaianas, Lexus, Lacoste and Coty luxury fragrances GUCCI, Hugo Boss and Escada. Bollare clients include Disney, MIKOH, Roxy, Stila, Timberland and Vans.

GAINESVILLE, FL—The University of Florida College of Journalism & Communications has named veteran educator Mira Lowe (pictured) has been named the new director of the Innovation News Center, the College’s multimedia newsroom. Lowe, a senior editor at CNN Digital in Atlanta, will lead a team of seven news professionals and more than 500 student journalists each year to provide local news coverage for 19 North Central Florida counties.