NEW YORK — Codeword has expanded its leadership team with three new appointments. Katy Kelley has returned to the agency as senior VP, marketing and brand after a brief interlude leading marketing teams at Meta. Kelley will oversee all Codeword’s marcom functions, leading global strategic communications for the firm. Ted Brown, a regular contributor to the New York Times, Rolling Stone, and other marquee publications, has joined the firm as VP, editorial. Brown brings more than 10 years of experience in marketing and editorial to Codeword, and has led creative teams at tech and media companies like the BBC, Wix and Figma. In addition, Jordan Leschinsky has been promoted to VP, strategy after three years leading strategy for several of Codeword’s largest accounts. She will now lead Codeword’s strategy and analytics teams across all accounts.

WASHINGTON — Clyde Group has hired Marianne Kaiser as its first senior VP of creative and digital. In the newly created role, Kaiser will be responsible for Clyde Group’s art, digital and content teams and will be bringing all three together for the first time under the umbrella of creative. By doing this she plans to elevate creative strategy to build unified message and campaign platforms. Before joining the Clyde Group, Kaiser (pictured) developed creative teams and created an infrastructure of growth at Splice Agency and the Fingerpaint Group. She has a deep background in the healthcare space as well, giving her experience in crafting and launching brands and campaigns in a highly regulated space. 

WASHINGTON — Infinite Global has named Zinie Chen Sampson a VP. Chen, who will be based in Washington and Richmond, Virginia, joins Infinite Global’s senior team, leading client accounts, handling high-level media relations, supporting litigation and crisis PR efforts, and mentoring and developing colleagues. A longtime Associated Press reporter and editor turned corporate communications professional, Chen has led media relations, editorial content planning and creation, awards submissions, and other PR initiatives on behalf of Am Law 100 and midsize firms, as well as companies in the consulting, healthcare and legal technology sectors.

NEW YORK — RooneyPartners has hired Weld Royal as a senior director. Royal brings more than 20 years of experience managing digital communications and content marketing for large organizations, with a focus on executive thought leadership and digital strategy designed to support corporate growth initiatives. Her experience includes leading content strategy for the NYSE equities trading and listings businesses and working at DailyFX, the research arm of London brokerage IG. At Panasonic North America, she built a content center of excellence centered on SEO, email marketing and digital experiences.