Paul Taaffe, who served eight years at the helm of Hill & Knowlton, is taking over for Peter Chadlington, 72, as CEO of Huntsworth.

Since 2012, the 20-year veteran of the WPP unit was director of communications at $7B e-commerce company Groupon.

Derek Mapp, Huntsworth chairman, said Taaffe has the extensive knowledge of PR, digital communications and e-commerce needed to make an immediate contribution of the British PR conglomerate.

Taaffe began his communications career in 1983 as corporate relations manager at Unilever.

He moved to Reginald Watts Assocs. and Weber Shandwick before joining H&K.

Taaffe will formally take command in April and use the intervening months to meet with Huntsworth executives and review its Grayling, Huntsworth Health, Red and Citigate properties.

Chadlington will become a senior advisor when Taaffe arrives and develop business by cultivating contacts in Africa, Middle East and Asia Pacific.

Huntsworth's No. 2 executive Sally Withey will step down from her COO and finance director slots.

She has been seriously ill and on leave since June.

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