LOS ANGELES--Hiltzik Strategies has hired former Juniper comms head David Shane to launch its West Coast presence.

Shane joins Hiltzik as executive vice-president, four months after departing Juniper Networks. He will open the firm's first West Coast office, in Los Angeles. 

Best-known for representing high-profile individuals such as Katie Couric, Glenn Beck, Sean Parker and Justin Bieber, Hiltzik Strategies also handles a broad range of strategic communications and crisis management services for corporations and philanthropic organizations. 

The firm was launched in 2008 after founder Matthew Hiltzik departed Freud Communications' US operation. Previously, he served as head of corporate communications at Miramax and has also worked on several political campaigns.

For Shane, the move marks a return to the entertainment and media industry. He has held senior communications roles at International Creative Management and Comcast, and also headed Weber Shandwick's Los Angeles office. Before joining Juniper, he was HP's VP of global communications.

Both Shane and Hiltzik declined to comment on the launch.