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Melanie Kirkwood Ruiz Joins Cushman & Wakefield as CIO, Americas

Cushman & Wakefield has hired Melanie Kirkwood Ruiz as CIO, Americas to lead the firm’s technology strategy in the region. She will focus on innovation, integration and optimization to support its overarching business strategy in the region and globally.

Based in Chicago, she will report to Adam Stanley, Global CIO and Chief Digital Officer. Kirkwood Ruiz will work across the firm’s Americas platform of more than 190 offices to develop tech solutions that improve operations, enhance customer service and drive new business.

“As massive technology shifts continue to impact our industry, Melanie will play a key role in supporting the digital transformation of our firm,” Stanley said.

Kirkwood Ruiz joins Cushman & Wakefield from Scientific Games, where she served as Vice President of Business Technology, responsible for making IT more agile and innovation focused to enhance client services.

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Read more at Cushman & WakefieldConnect With Cushman & Wakefield’s Kirkwood RuizConnect With Cushman & Wakefield’s Stanley

About Dennis Kaiser

Dennis Kaiser is Vice President of Public Relations and Communications for Connect Creative. Dennis is a communications leader with more than 40 years of experience including as a journalist and in corporate and agency marketing communications roles. He is responsible for Connect Creative’s agency client services and is involved in a range of initiatives ranging from public relations and content strategy, communications and message development, copywriting, media relations, social media and content marketing services. Prior to joining Connect Media in 2015, his most recent corporate communications roles involved leading a regional public relations effort across Southern California for CBRE, playing a key marketing role on JLL’s national retail team, and directing the global public relations effort at ValleyCrest (BrightView), the nation’s largest commercial landscape services company. He has worked on marketing communications assignments for such CRE companies as Blackstone/Equity Office, Carlyle, Caruso, Disney Resorts, GE Capital, Irvine Company, Hines, Howard Hughes Corp., Jeffries, Lennar, MGM, Marcus & Millichap, Prologis, Raleigh Studios, Simon, Starwood, Trammell Crow Company, Transamerica, UBS and Wynn Resorts. Dennis has also worked on communications and launch strategies for a number of consumer electronic, media and tech brands including SlingMedia, Channel Master, Deluxe Media Entertainment, BeIn Sports, EchoStar and Sprint. Dennis’s agency background included firms such as Off Madison Ave., Idea Hall and Macy + Associates. He has earned an outstanding reputation with organization leaders as a trusted advisor, strategic program implementer, consensus builder and exceptional collaborator. Dennis has developed and managed national communications programs for Fortune 500 companies to start-ups, both public and private. He’s successfully worked with journalists across the globe representing clients involved in major-breaking news stories, product launches, media tours, and company news announcements. Dennis has been involved in a host of charitable and community organizations including the American Cancer Society, Easter Seals, Boy Scouts, Chrysalis Foundation, Freedom For Life, HOLA, L.A.’s BEST, Reach Out and Read, Super Bowl Host Committee, and the Thunderbirds Charities.

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