NEW YORK — Weber Shandwick has reshuffled its leadership in North America, marking the first significant personnel moves since Gail Heimann became CEO earlier this year.

Joy Farber Kolo, who has spent 24 years with the firm, replaces Sara Gavin as president of North America while retaining oversight of the firm’s East operations, spanning New York, Boston, Atlanta. 

Gavin, meanwhile, is named chief client officer, overseeing the firm’s key client relationships and client service model. Gavin replaces Cathy Calhoun, who will take on a new role within Weber Shandwick parent IPG’s Constituency Management Group (CMG).  

In addition, Chris Perry expands his role from chief digital officer to chief innovation officer. The move comes more than a year after Perry oversaw the launch Weber Shandwick's X Practice, an effort to integrate the firm’s global innovation and technology-focused capabilities.

Finally, Susan Howe takes on a newly-created position as chief growth officer, after previously serving as chief collaboration officer, while Abby Gold, formerly chief human resources officer, will continue to focus on talent as chief employee experience officer.

Howe will continue to manage key client relationships, and will also be responsible for 'driving client-centric strategic alignments' across Weber Shandwick’s global regions. 

“Given all the forces at play for companies today – tech advances, stakeholder pressure, the hyperspeed of information, opinions from everywhere – our clients are living in a state of disequilibrium," said Heimann in a statement. "The daily balancing and rebalancing act means our clients need more from us, so we made a commitment to tackle their toughest business challenges — in short, to solve. Our success in this endeavor requires a laser-like focus in several areas: constantly innovating our approach, predicting and addressing client needs, fostering talent and, of course, making the highest quality, most impactful work. These new positions – helmed by consummate leaders – will ensure we deliver on this ambition."