WASHINGTON — Dan Doherty, managing director of BCW’s Washington office, has been promoted to head of the agency’s North American public affairs and crisis practice.

As executive VP, global public affairs and crisis solutions, Doherty is responsible for leading and building the practice in North America. He replaces Aranthan "AJ" Jones II, who left BCW in July to join Vanda Pharmaceuticals as chief corporate affairs and communications officer.

Doherty has been BCW’s public affairs and crisis team lead in Washington since 2018, working with a range of corporate and nonprofit clients on crisis and issues management, government affairs and media relations. He also helped create and leads BCW’s cannabis consulting unit.

Doherty joined BCW predecessor Burson-Marsteller in 2017 with 20 years of agency experience. Before that, he was president of TheWadeGroup.

“Dan combines a deep understanding of the opportunities and challenges that clients face today in terms of policy, regulation, reputation and corporate citizenship with an entrepreneurial approach to business,” said BCW North America president Chris Foster. “His substantial experience building strategic integrated communications programs for clients in both the public and private sectors, counseling c-suite executives on the most high-profile challenges of the day and building a business unit from the ground up make him the perfect choice for this important role.”