Udemy, an online learning and teaching platform, names Stacey Zolt Hara senior vice president of corporate communications. Zolt Hara joins the company from Visa, where she most recently served as vice president and global head of employee and executive communications. Before coming to Visa, she held several executive posts at Edelman. Earlier in her career, Zolt Hara was an adviser to Hillary Clinton’s 2008 presidential campaign and worked for Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL). She will lead the team responsible for Udemy’s global corporate communications, public relations, social media, analyst relations, executive and employee communications, crisis management and community relations. “Stacey has an incredible track record of elevating corporate reputation with strong narratives that resonate among both internal and external stakeholders,” said Udemy CEO Gregg Coccari. Osmo from BYJU’S, which offers gamified learning experiences, names Shawn Smith as its first global head of communications. Smith was most recently executive director of publicity and communications for WarnerMedia Global Brands and Experiences. She was previously director of public relations and brand partnerships at MGA Entertainment, and before that she served as the Walt Disney Company’s first senior manager of communications for diversity & inclusion. At Osmo, Smith will lead communications strategy and narrative messaging across all aspects of the company’s business, including corporate communications and brand publicity campaigns. “We’re excited to have Shawn’s leadership and talent at the helm of our communications division,” said Osmo from BYJU’s senior vp of international business Cherian Thomas. The Brand Guild names Curtis George Kelly and Kelly Ayen to senior director, public relations positions. Kelly was previously director, consumer & lifestyle at Jonesworks. He will lead The Brand Guild’s CPG practice out of their New York Office in addition to working with the agency’s events team on media relations and strategy for its event clients. Ayen most recently served as public relations director at imre. In her new post, she will lead The Brand Guild’s consumer lifestyle practice. Category:Personnel Appointments
Rebecca Binder, who joined RF|Binder in 2018 as senior managing director, strategic initiatives, has been promoted to president at the family-owned firm.
FINN Partners names Outcast’s Niko Felix as a partner in its global technology practice, a newly created position… WWE names Catherine Newman EVP and head of marketing… Investis Digital appoints Jared Koesten as global chief talent officer.