The National Endowment for Democracy (NED) has named Leslie Aun as its first vice president of communications and public engagement. Aun brings more than two decades of global experience in media, communications, events management, and building partnerships in the nonprofit and corporate sectors. Most recently, she was vice president of communications and marketing for Population Reference Bureau (PRB), a nonpartisan, non-profit that uses data to improve the health and well-being of people around the world. At PRB, she led all communications, including media relations, international events, public awareness campaigns, and a website relaunch. Previously, as vice president of public relations for the World Wildlife Fund, Aun produced Earth Hour, the largest single public engagement on climate to date, which was recognized by the Public Relations Society of America with the Silver Anvil Award of Excellence. She also served as vice president of communications at the Susan G. Komen for the Cure, chief communications officer at Special Olympics International, and as vice president for communications at Paris-based global companies Sodexo and Keolis.

After eight years as CRO of the National Press Club, Brian Taylor made the decision to transition to an independent business consultant, launching ESP Growth Strategies.   In addition, Taylor, whose career has spanned four decades working with thousands of communications clients, has been named Chief Growth Partner in a consultancy role with Lumentus. From 2006 to 2014, Taylor was VP of sales for global media and public relations services company PR Newswire, where he led sales, marketing and customer service for the company’s specialized business unit providing solutions to government, advocacy, political, association and education markets. From 1995-2006, he built out a new sales, marketing, and product strategy for U.S. Newswire, later acquired by PR Newswire, and, ultimately, Cision. Taylor began his career as PR Director and on-air personality at WBSB-FM in Baltimore and is a graduate of Towson University.