RALEIGH — French/West/Vaughn has appointed agency principal Natalie Best the firm’s first chief operating officer. Best (pictured) had served as the agency’s executive VP & director of client services since 2010. As COO, she will be responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of FWV with president David Gwyn, reporting to chairman & CEO Rick French.

WASHINGTON — Subject Matter has expanded its team, hiring Patrick Kerley as senior VP of digital strategy and Curry Smith as a client service team senior director.  Kerley was most recently an executive VP, managing director at Burson Cohn & Wolfe (BCW) where he led integrated communications campaigns, crisis response and digital strategy for multiple Fortune 500 and international clients. Smith brings diverse experience including nonprofit management, marketing and communications, external affairs and government relations. He recently directed development and fundraising efforts during the 2018 midterm election cycle for the voting advocacy group HeadCount.

MINNEAPOLIS — Maccabee has promoted Jean Hill to executive VP and hired Christine Scherping as VP. Hill co-manages the Minneapolis agency and leads a variety of healthcare, real estate, manufacturing and technology accounts, along with staff professional development and talent management. Scherping was formerly a VP and managing supervisor with Carmichael Lynch Relate.

CHARLOTTE, NC — Alyssa Townsend has joined Spark Strategic Ideas as a social media specialist. Previously, Townsend worked as the director of social media for Innisfree Hotels in Gulf Breeze, FL, leading the social media strategy for more than 30 clients and the management of over 100 different social media profiles.

WASHINGTON — Crosby Marketing Communications has added three professionals to its client services team in the firm’s Washington office. Andrew Bellows has been hired as Director, integration management and Fiona Galliani and Wynne Kirchner join as associate integration managers.