Highwire adds Barrasso, Saleh to senior leadership team. Kona Barrasso joins as managing director of business services, while Nyla Saleh has been named executive VP, executive client partner. SAN FRANCISCO - Highwire has expanded its senior leadership team with the appointments of Kona Barrasso as managing director of business services and Nyla Saleh as executive VP, executive client partner. Barrasso will lead the development of Highwire's business services practice, with responsibility for the agency's work across B2B, financial and professional services and impact. She brings 20 years of experience across agency and in-house roles. Before joining Highwire, Barrasso held senior positions at WE Communications, Burson and Makovsky, working with clients including SAP, PwC, Accenture and Capgemini. She also previously worked in-house at Kearney. Saleh joins Highwire after most recently serving as a brand practice and North American retail sector lead at Weber Shandwick, where she was also senior client relationship lead for The Home Depot. Earlier, Saleh spent eight years at Edelman, where she led the TJX Companies business, and began her career at Ogilvy working across corporate and technology communications. At Highwire, Saleh will serve as a senior executive partner to major clients, working across the agency's strategy, creative, media and marketing capabilities. "Kona and Nyla exemplify the caliber of senior counselor that clients operating in high-stakes markets require," said Highwire CEO Michael O'Brien. "During their careers, they have earned the trust of leading brands, grown complex client relationships, and built strong teams capable of navigating today's most dynamic news cycles." Article tags News direct to your inbox The agency playbook. The PR industry's most comprehensive listing of firms from every region and specialty.

Mastercard names global communications partner. by Telum Media 18 September 2026 4:55 AM 2 mins read Mastercard has selected We. Communications as its new global communications partner following a competitive review. The partnership supports Mastercard's evolving approach to communications, storytelling and stakeholder engagement as the company navigates a more complex landscape shaped by technology, AI, commerce and shifting audience expectations. We. Communications was selected for its technology expertise, strategic communications capabilities, global strength and track record helping brands navigate transformation and innovation. The work begins at the enterprise level, with additional scope, regional expansion and workstreams expected to follow in a phased approach. Lindsey Bastani, Executive Vice President and Head of We. Communications' technology sector, will oversee the account with a bespoke team spanning disciplines and the agency's global network. Lindsey said: "We couldn't be more thrilled to partner with this iconic brand and incredible client team. "The storytelling opportunity is extraordinary, from Mastercard's unique data and insight into how money moves around the world, to translating the complexity of agentic commerce and cybersecurity into human stories, to building understanding and belief with audiences from developers to the C-suite. It's exactly the kind of work we love to do." Jill Kramer, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer of Mastercard, added: "We're excited to evolve the Mastercard brand story, with We. Communications as our new agency of record helping us tell the fuller story of how Mastercard is powering new forms of value exchange for economies around the world, in new and different ways." Telum Media creating connections. Book a demo You might also enjoy. The Advisory Ward has appointed healthcare, corporate affairs and government policy specialist, Mike Tegg, as Senior Client Partner, strengthening the agency's senior health communications advisory capability as their business expands across Australia and the Asia-Pacific region. Mike brings experience spanning healthcare communications, corporate and government affairs, public policy, reputation, issues management and stakeholder engagement. He has held senior in-house roles with Johnson & Johnson and Novartis and brings agency and regional experience through WPP agencies GCI Health and Hawker Britton. Mike joins Senior Client Partner Samantha Razzell, Senior Account Manager Tayo Morris and Strategy Director Alex Abao, establishing the core senior team. 18 September 2026 4:20 AM Industry update New Zealand PR agencies, Common Ground and Dig have joined forces to become Ground Control PR, a new consumer and tech PR firm that works across the Tasman. The agency has already won clients such as Les Mills, Griffin's and DB Breweries' restaurant group Star Group, as well as a range of clients from Australia such as 3P Learning, Marine Stewardship Council and alcoholic ready-to-drinks for Coca-Cola Oceania. Co-founders Olivia Boswell and Leni Ma'ia'i also bring a stable of brands together from Common Ground and Dig PR respectively, including Boring Oat Milk, OPPO, Icehouse Ventures, Openstar, Outward Bound, Motion Sickness and Jamie Kay. Leni says the company's ethos is that a story told well can change an entire business. "We're bloody good at building products and companies on this side of the world, but not as good at telling the story of that success. Ours is the really fun part of the job, to come in and highlight the incredible work that's already going on and increase that impact," he said. "In both of our respective agencies, what our clients appreciated was our deep curiosities and pursuit of truth, and the understanding of what would resonate with audiences. These skills are hallmarks of good journalism, and they can be especially powerful when used through PR." 18 September 2026 4:05 AM 2 mins read Michelle Bartolo has been welcomed at global champagne and spirits group, Pernod Ricard, as Corporate Communications Manager. She was at Ferrero for three and a half years as Senior Corporate Communications Manager. Prior to this, Michelle worked in-house in the tourism and retail sectors. 18 September 2026 3:46 AM