NEW YORK — Kate Charles has joined Lippe Taylor as the agency’s new chief planning officer. She joins the agency after having served as chief strategy officer at healthcare agency Seiden, and head of insights & planning at 360i.  In the newly created role, Charles is charged with using the agency’s capabilities to drive programs for clients.

BOSTON —  Sheila Leyne, who has presided over MullenLowe Public Relations for more than 20 years, will be leaving the agency at the end of September. Three regional leaders will assume responsibilities for running the firm, each with their own area of focus. Kelly Burke, a 15-plus-year veteran of MullenLowe, will lead Boston’s PR business, focusing on general management, revenue growth, and elevating the company’s PR offering. Kalley Jolly, who returned to MullenLowe a year ago after a previous eight-year tenure, will oversee talent and professional development, new business growth, and MullenLowe PR’s New York clients and team. Erica Samadani will continue to lead the MullenLowe PR’s Los Angeles office and be responsible for agency communications, thought leadership and D&I.

TALLAHASSEE, FL — Sachs Media has hired veteran state government communicator Jenn Meale Poggie as senior account manager of public affairs. Poggie brings more than a decade of experience as a communications director for three state agencies — the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, the Florida Attorney General’s Office  and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, under former Commissioner Adam Putnam.

SACRAMENTO, CA — The Core Strategic Group has added John Hooper to its public affairs and campaigns team as the company continues its expansion. Hooper will serve as senior VP for FSB public affairs. He joins CSG after serving as managing director leading the public affairs practice for Group SJR, a New York digital strategy firm owned by WPP.