WASHINGTON, D.C.: Mike Berland returned to Penn, Schoen & Berland Associates (PSB) as president on January 4, after three years away from the firm. In the new role, Berland will report to CEO Mark Penn and will head global business development from PSB's New York office.

Berland first joined the firm in 1990, and left in 2006 to work as an independent communications consultant. His departure wasn't a quiet one, though. In 2007, shortly after leaving PSB, Berland was involved ...