Dave Whiting has joined Weber Shandwick as GM of the Boston office.Whiting will start the role on Feb. 3, a Weber Shandwick spokesperson said.  Whiting was hired to oversee Weber Shandwick?ÇÖs 80-person Boston office, leading clients,?business growth and driving innovation?for?the Boston market, it said in a statement.?He will have a?broader?leadership?role?in the agency?ÇÖs?corporate affairs and advisory?business in North America as well. ?Ç£I?ÇÖm thrilled to lead the largest and most-awarded firm in Boston and the New England region,?Ç¥ Whiting said. ?Ç£Weber Shandwick?ÇÖs unmatched creativity, strategy and impact ?Çö combined with its modern corporate affairs expertise and advisory capabilities ?Çö make it a true powerhouse. Together with our Boston leadership team, we?ÇÖre ready to drive innovation, deliver measurable results, and elevate the firm?ÇÖs legacy as an industry leader.?Ç¥ Whiting succeeded Pam Jenkins, chief public health officer and chief public affairs officer, who was also acting as interim Boston GM, the spokesperson explained.Previously, Whiting was global chief operating officer with Edelman. He led the firm?ÇÖs business-to-business operations across the U.S., Canada, Latin America, Asia-Pacific, Europe, Middle East and Africa in his prior role. He joined Edelman in December 2012. Recent appointments at Weber Shandwick include the promotion of Paul Massey to South region president in December; and Marianna Ruiz?ÇÖs appointment as chief creative officer of creative growth for North America in August. Additionally, Jeff Immel, a 14-year Weber Shandwick veteran, was named as Weber Shandwick chief creative officer for Chicago. The Weber Shandwick Collective also promoted O?ÇÖLeary and Karen Pugliese to global president roles and named Joy Farber Kolo chief impact officer in December as the agency formalized its leadership under new CEO Susan Howe. Howe became CEO, succeeding Gail Heimann, in November.

In the wake of the Supreme Court's Dobbs decision, which revoked the constitutional right to abortion, Weber Shandwick leaders decided to take their own initiative to address the 2022 ruling. Led by the late Angela Mears, then New York?ÇÖs chief creative officer, the team aimed to protect women?ÇÖs digital privacy amid growing concerns for those seeking reproductive health information online.This effort culminated on June 24, the second anniversary of Dobbs, with the launch of the Vagina Privacy Network (VPN). Created in partnership with MSI Reproductive Choices and the Electronic Frontier Foundation, this online portal helps women safely search for abortion care or reproductive health information without leaving a digital trail. The VPN provides a step-by-step guide for online identity protection, including links to free, secure web browsers. This digital toolkit is especially crucial in states with abortion restrictions.Last month?ÇÖs VPN rollout featured activations in three states where abortion rights are banned (Indiana, Tennessee) or severely restricted (Georgia). VPN-branded burner phones with recordings of the digital privacy toolkit were distributed at marches marking the anniversary of Roe vs. Wade being overturned, and to grassroots partners. Billboards were also erected in state capitals to ensure legislators got the message.Pam Jenkins, Weber Shandwick?ÇÖs chief public health officer, emphasized that the agency will continue supporting VPN, utilizing influencers and trusted female thought leaders to raise awareness of the site.The ultimate goal remains clear: safeguarding women's digital privacy.