Former NYC Economic Development Corporation, Foot Locker and Out & Equal senior communications leader Matthew Di Taranto joins as Vice President, Reputation Management.
Erin Middlebrooks, corporate communications and brand strategy expert, joins as Director, Reputation Management.
Washington D.C. — Avoq welcomed the addition of two seasoned communications leaders to its New York office as the firm expands its expertise across public affairs, reputation management, creative and digital practices. The additions reflect Avoq’s continued momentum in the New York market and its commitment to bringing clients trusted, high-impact counsel on complex communications challenges.
“Our New York office continues to grow rapidly, with several talented new team members joining in recent months. Their experience in corporate and brand reputation and purpose-driven communications positions us to deliver even greater impact for our clients.” said Avoq CEO Nicole Cornish.
Matthew Di Taranto, a strategic and innovative communications leader with nearly 15 years of experience in public relations, corporate communications and brand strategy, joins Avoq as Vice President in the Reputation Management practice. Di Taranto’s extensive background spans media relations, public affairs, executive thought leadership and visibility and messaging development.
Most recently, Di Taranto served as Senior Director of Public Relations and Communications at Out & Equal, a nonprofit dedicated to advancing LGBTQ+ inclusion in the workplace and beyond. Prior to that, he was Senior Director of External Affairs at Foot Locker, Inc., where he played an integral role in elevating their purpose work. Earlier in his career, Di Taranto held roles with the City of New York’s Economic Development Corporation, the International Rescue Committee and at leading PR agencies including RF|Binder and Edelman. He graduated from NYU with a BA in International Relations.
Erin Middlebrooks joins Avoq as a Director in the Reputation Management practice with 13 years of experience spanning public relations, marketing and corporate communications. She specializes in creative and strategic planning, which has allowed her to develop compelling and effective campaigns, activations and media strategies for major retailers and Fortune 500 companies. Middlebrooks previously served as an Account Manager at Allison & Partners on the Corporate Consumer team and most recently led a PR division where she managed communications for University Hospital in Newark, NJ and Atlantic Health Systems. She is a graduate of Howard University.
Other Recent Additions to New York’s Senior Talent
These latest investments in talent continue building on the momentum from recent additions to Avoq’s New York team over the past year.
Amanda Finney joined Avoq as VP on the Reputation Management team, most recently serving as Director of Public Affairs at the U.S. Department of Energy, after previously being Deputy Director, where she led the agency’s messaging and media relations strategies.
Betsy Ralston joined Avoq as VP & Group Creative Director after serving as Executive Creative Director at Organic, an agency within the Omnicom network, and Creative Director at VML.
About Avoq
Avoq is an integrated firm that combines communications and advocacy to creatively shape narratives, manage brand reputation, influence national debates, and engage the audiences you need to reach. Avoq’s 200+ employees work from offices in Washington D.C., Chicago, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Miami. Avoq is a portfolio company of Coral Tree Partners, a Los Angeles-based private equity firm focused on investments in the media, entertainment and communications sectors. Visit teamavoq.com to learn more.
