PRWeek US News

WASHINGTON: GSK signed Washington Redskins quarterback Donovan McNabb to support its Healthy Communities Program designed to promote exercise and tackle childhood obesity.

MINNEAPOLIS: Haberman has been appointed AOR for the Washburn Center for Children, a mental health service provider for children and families in the Twin Cities.

NEW YORK: Time Inc's EVP, Sylvia Auton, is leaving her role after four years to return to her former position as CEO of UK-based sister magazine company IPC Media, a job currently held by Evelyn Webster.

NEW YORK: Advertising and communications agency Thevoxcollective hired Michelle Maldonado as director of PR.

LAKE FOREST, IL: Media relations was at the center of the communications strategy for Pactiv as the maker of Hefty trash bags was acquired by Reynolds Group in a near-$6 billion deal, including debt.

LOS ANGELES: The Sundance Institute, the nonprofit that produces the Sundance Film Festival, hired Jennifer Arceneaux as director of external relations, effective September 17.

SAN FRANCISCO: Home entertainment technology brand TiVo hired Bite Communications as its consumer PR agency, effective last week.

NEW YORK: A communications adviser to former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair turned founder of London-based media monitoring service NewsFirst opened a US office this week.

WASHINGTON: The American Petroleum Institute intends to hold rallies in five states to fight proposed legislation it says could hinder economic and job growth in the energy industry.

WASHINGTON: The National Restaurant Association appointed James Balda to the newly created position of chief marketing and communications officer.

LOS ANGELES: PondelWilkinson has hired George Medici as SVP and promoted Ron Neal to VP.

NEW YORK: Ruder Finn is considering spinning off a separate agency within the next few months, with co-CEO Peter Finn at the helm.

LONDON: World Vision International has appointed former PRWeek UK publisher/editor-in-chief Kate Nicholas to the role of global chief communications officer.

NEW YORK: Burson-Marsteller appointed Jason Teitler MD of its US brand marketing practice.

CLEVELAND: Sweeney PR has been hired by Yube to support the October launch of its modular furniture system.

CHICAGO: Zócalo Group hired Jennifer Severns as creative director of its Zócalo Studios division, effective at the beginning of August.

NEW YORK: Scarlet Heifer is set to launch a social media consumer campaign to promote voice over internet protocol provider VoX Communications.

NEW YORK: Porter Novelli hired David Richeson, Bart Casabona, and Chris Montemurro to work on the Procter & Gamble business in its brand marketing practice.

NEW YORK: Luxury travel company Tumi named Kaplow PR its AOR, effective this week, as it plans for new product lines and attempts to go beyond its core business target to reach female and next-gen consumers.

NEW YORK: The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America appointed Patricia McLaughlin VP of interactive media and communications.