NEW YORK—CIT Group, a leading provider of commercial lending and leasing services, has appointed Gina Proia as executive vice president and chief marketing and communications officer. Proia will serve on the company’s executive management committee and report directly to chief executive officer Ellen Alemany. Proia was the chief communications officer at Ally Financial, and earlier held various positions at General Motors.

LOS ANGELES–STX Entertainment, a next-generation media company, has appointed Patricia Röckenwagner to the newly created role of chief communications officer. Röckenwagner comes to STX from Advance Vixeid Partners, the independent investment arm of Advance Publications and Condé Nast. She previously led corporate branding and communications for Condé Nast and before that, held communications and branding positions at McGraw Hill Financial, Paramount Pictures, Time Warner Cable, Comcast and AT&T.

BOSTON—Melodie Jackson, formerly head spokesperson at the Kennedy School of Government, has been named assistant vice president for communications at Harvard University. Before arriving at Harvard 11 years ago, Jackson held positions at Citizens Bank, Stanford University’s medical school, and the University of Maryland Medical System.

PORTLAND, OR—Cambia Health Solutions has promoted Sean Robbins to senior vice president of public affairs and policy, Julie Barnes to vice president of policy and political strategy. In addition, Jennifer Danielson has been named vice president of public affairs and strategic advocacy.

NEW YORK—MetTel, a communications solution provider for businesses, has appointed Michael Azzi to lead corporate communications. A 16-year veteran of IBM, Azzi joins MetTel from Hill+Knowlton Strategies where he led the firm's New York technology practice.

SANTA ROSA, CA—Exchange Bank, a California-based community bank providing a wide range of personal, commercial and trust and investment services, has hired Carolyn Cole-Schweizer as its new corporate communications and social media specialist. Most recently, Cole-Schweizer was the donor & alumni relations coordinator for the Santa Rosa Junior College Foundation.