NEW YORK — Ruder Finn has named Chip Scarinzi the firm’s US head of technology and innovation. Scarinzi is joining a global Ruder Finn technology team of over 175 and will report directly to CEO Kathy Bloomgarden. Scarinzi brings over 21 years of experience as a strategic client counselor, accomplished media relations practitioner and skilled storyteller on behalf of enterprise technology and consumer brands. He joins Ruder Finn from Hill+Knowlton Strategies, where he served as US deputy technology lead. Earlier in his career, he held senior roles at Ketchum, Cohn & Wolfe and Edelman.

NEW YORK — Michael Frazier has joined SKDK’s public affairs practice in New York as an executive VP. Frazier will support corporate, crisis and advocacy clients, as well as develop business and engage in leadership initiatives at the firm. A former reporter for Newsday and the Associated Press, Frazier spent more than a decade at the National September 11 Memorial & Museum, playing a key role in shaping communications around one of the most consequential sites in the US. He also served in a top communications role at Food Allergy Research and Education (FARE), and in 2020, Frazier served as national spokesperson for Mike Bloomberg’s presidential campaign. 

WASHINGTON — APCO Worldwide has hired Christina Saull to head the firm’s transportation portfolio. With expertise in strategic communications, media relations and issues management, Saull brings nearly 20 years of public relations and public affairs experience to the role. Prior to joining APCO, Saull served as the director of corporate communications at the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, which operates Reagan National and Dulles International airports and the Dulles Toll Road. In this role, she drove internal and external communications, leading crisis communication planning and response, proactive and reactive media relations and serving as lead public information officer and spokesperson for the organization.  

ATLANTA — Kristin Sauchak has joined Walker Comms as a senior VP. Sauchak will be responsible for growing the boutique communications firm’s branding and brand strategy capabilities, including campaign development and execution, strategic messaging, content creation and thought leadership offerings. She joins Walker Comms from Silicon Valley venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, where she was a portfolio marketing partner, and previously spent more than nine years at The Outcast Agency.