KIVVIT ANNOUNCES CHRIS DONNELLY AS NEW GENERAL MANAGER OF NJ OFFICE

Hires Campaign Management Specialist Kimelle Ash As Senior Associate

Asbury Park — Kivvit today announced that Chris Donnelly will serve as the new General Manager of the firm’s New Jersey office. In addition, Kivvit also announced that campaign management specialist Kimelle Ash has joined the firm as a Senior Associate, working out of the New Jersey office. Kimelle joins New Jersey’s already high-profile team of seasoned professionals, which includes Managing Director Adam Steinberger, Director Megan Cryan, Associate Director Vin Ciniello, Director of Brand Strategy Pearl Gabel and Director of Insights Jonathan Scharff.

“The Kivvit team is a remarkable group of individuals with experience and capabilities in every sector of New Jersey business, politics and public advocacy,” said Donnelly. “We remain focused on our data-driven approach while recognizing that an ever-changing landscape means adapting and finding new ways to meet client needs. It is an honor to work with such a talented team.”

Donnelly has played an integral role in several Kivvit campaigns, such as the 2020 New Jersey cannabis legalization effort and the 2016 effort to replenish and constitutionally dedicate funding for the New Jersey Transportation Trust Fund. Prior to joining Kivvit, he was the press secretary and spokesperson for New Jersey Senate President Steve Sweeney. He took a brief leave of absence to be the communications director for the New Jersey United for Marriage campaign, an effort to establish marriage equality in New Jersey. Before that, Donnelly served as a deputy press secretary for Governor Jon Corzine, was the communications director for the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, and worked in the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs for Governors Jim McGreevey and Richard Codey. He is also the former chair of Garden State Equality’s Equity Action Fund.

Ash specializes in campaign management, issue advocacy, messaging, and strategic counsel. Before Kivvit, Kimelle served as a lead mobilization manager for Get Out the Vote efforts for Jon Ossoff’s 2021 Georgia Senate runoff campaign. She also worked on several other competitive races across the country, including campaigns for Vice President Kamala Harris and New Jersey Rep. Andy Kim. Ash also served as scheduler and community outreach director for New Jersey Senator Troy Singleton and a competitive analyst for AL Media.

Kivvit is once again among the top 20 largest U.S. independent communications firms, according to O’Dwyer’s 2022 rankings. It is Kivvit’s third year in a row in the top 20 and comes on the heels of a year of growth that included the launch of a brand strategy and talent team as well as the addition of team members at all levels. These investments are ongoing and are aimed at meeting the evolving needs of clients in today’s fast-changing landscape. They also reinforce Kivvit’s continued dedication to being the Agency of the Future. Kivvit landed in the top 5 for the following specialty categories:

• #1 Real Estate Finance & Development
• #2 Energy
• #2 Non-Profit
• #3 Education
• #4 Purpose/Corporate Social Responsibility

Kivvit also achieved top rankings in several other categories, including Environment, Sustainability, and Greentech (#6); Sports (#6); Automotive and Transportation (#7); Industrial (#10); and Healthcare (#18).

About Kivvit

Kivvit is one of the largest and fastest-growing independent strategic communications and public affairs firms in the United States, with over 130 professionals across six offices in Boston, Chicago, Miami, New York, New Jersey, and Washington, D.C.

Kivvit has earned over 60 awards and recognitions in the past five years, including Public Affairs Firm of the Year (Reed Awards), Digital Agency of the Year (PRovoke SABRE North America), Most Innovative Agency (Bulldog Stars of PR Awards), and Best Agency to Work For (PRovoke). To learn more and see what we do, visit www.Kivvit.com and follow us @TeamKivvit.