Career moves

Gwyn promoted at French West Vaughan

David Gwyn has been promoted to president of Raleigh communications firm French West Vaughan.

Gwyn, 43, had been executive vice president and general manager of the firm's Raleigh office. He joined the agency in 1999 after five years of running his own marketing firm.

Agency founder Rick French, who previously held both the president and CEO positions, remains as chief executive and will assume the title of chairman of the 77-person firm. Gwyn will take on expanded duties for running day-to-day operations, including having the agency's New York office report directly to him.

"Dave has earned it," French said of the promotion. "He has done a really nice job in terms of the increasing responsibilities I have given him over the years."

Gwyn is one of four agency executives who have been named principals of the agency and granted an undisclosed ownership stake in the business. The others are: Jack Glasure, chief marketing officer; Lauren Taylor, executive vice president; and Natalie Best, senior vice president and director of client services. They also were named to an executive management committee that reports to French.

In other moves ...

Michael C. Hurley , who was a partner at Yates, McLamb & Weyher, opened a law practice at 3737 Glenwood Ave. in Raleigh. Three paralegals will assist him.

Paula Dickerson was hired as the public affairs and advocacy officer at the Consulate of Canada in Raleigh. Dickerson's responsibilities include media relations and the development of advocacy initiatives promoting joint Canadian-U.S. interests throughout North and South Carolina.

After a 15-year tenure, William "Dub" Graham Jr. has retired from Hunton & Williams. Graham provided counsel to the firm in the areas of energy, utility and telecommunications law, with emphasis on electric utility regulation, litigation and arbitration.

Austin Green joined Centrifuge Media in Morrisville as project manager. Green is responsible for planning and executing audiovisual services for client meetings.

Patrick Bryant joined International Financial Group in Research Triangle Park. Bryant will direct all the recruitment efforts for senior level finance, technical and accounting candidates and new client business development. International Financial Group is a career placement group.

Casey Clark was hired as a financial representative at Capitol Financial Solutions, a financial services firm in Raleigh, and a member of John Hancock Financial Network.

Chris Brasier was elected vice president at the SmithGroup, an architecture and engineering firm in Durham. Brasier overseas the management and performance of the Raleigh-Durham office. David Johnson has been elected principal, responsible for the continued expansion of SmithGroup's science and technology presence in the Southeast.

J. Kellam Warren and Mary M. Williams have been named partners at Wyrick Robbins Yates & Ponton, a law firm in Raleigh.

Ben Blackmer joined RBW, an advertising and marketing agency in Raleigh, as interactive media supervisor. Blackmer will oversee the interactive media programs for a variety of accounts, including BB&T, CORT, Dollar Tree Stores and Sentara Health Care, among others.

Bud Cohoon has been named executive director of Triangle North, a network of tax-advantaged business and industrial parks in Franklin, Granville, Vance and Warren counties. Triangle North was created by the county governments through a tax- sharing arrangement. Companies that locate and create jobs in any Triangle North park receive a tax credit of $12,500 per job.