NEW YORK: Ketchum has hired Doug Petkus, former senior counselor at Widmeyer Communications, to take the same role in its issues and crisis management group.

Petkus had previously worked as VP of corporate communications at Wyeth until it was acquired by Pfizer in 2009. He has also held senior communications positions at Abbott Laboratories and Schering-Plough, now a part of Merck. He began his career at Hill & Knowlton.