SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Ken Bouton has been named Business Wire's executive vice president, global sales, part of a broader organizational realignment that positions the company to capitalize on future growth opportunities.

Bouton has risen through the ranks in his two-decade Business Wire career, most recently serving as senior vice president, global sales. Bouton is responsible for managing sales activities in Business Wire's 29 offices throughout North America, Europe, and the Asia Pacific region.

Since joining Business Wire in 1997, Bouton has served as manager of Business Wire's Dallas and Chicago offices, before being named regional vice president, Midwest region in 2007. He was elevated to group vice president, central U.S. & Canada sales, in 2009. He is based in Chicago.

"Ken's industry knowledge, experience, and leadership skills epitomize the core values of Business Wire," said Geff Scott, the company's chief executive officer, in making the announcement. "I look forward to the future with great anticipation, anxious to witness Ken's many great accomplishments in his new role."

Business Wire also announced four group vice presidents, providing Bouton with a solid sales management infrastructure to support the company’s strategic goals.

Sarah Shepard, group vice president, New York, most recently served as regional vice president, New York, since September 2011. Sarah joined Business Wire in 2005 as a senior account manager and was named director of New York sales in January 2009. Sarah is a member of the National Investor Relations Institute and participates and speaks at several national and local industry events. She is on the executive board of her son’s high school and served on the Board of Trustees for Professional Children’s School in New York City.

Elaine Stiles, group vice president, is responsible for sales and operations for the Toronto, Calgary, Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C. offices. Elaine is based in Cleveland, and most recently served as a regional vice president since January 2013. Elaine joined Business Wire as an account executive in the Chicago office in 2005. She was promoted to a senior account executive in 2008 and appointed Chicago regional manager in 2010.

Matthew Policastro, group vice president, is responsible for sales and operations for the Los Angeles, Newport Beach, San Francisco, Silicon Valley, Seattle, and Phoenix offices. He has been regional vice president, California, since January 2012. Based in Los Angeles, Matt joined Business Wire as an account executive in 2003 and was appointed regional manager of Los Angeles in 2008. Matt is an alumni of Rutgers University and received his MBA from Pepperdine University. He is a member of the National Investor Relations Institute and The Public Relations Society of America.

Brenda Bell, group vice president, is responsible for sales and operations for the Atlanta, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Miami, and Nashville offices. Based in Denver, Brenda previously served as regional vice president since January 2014. She joined Business Wire as a senior account manager in the Denver office in 2006 and was later named regional manager, Denver, in 2011. Brenda is graduate of the University of Oklahoma with a Bachelor degree in Journalism/Public Relations. She is a member of the National Investor Relations Institute and The Public Relations Society of America.

About Business Wire:

Business Wire, a Berkshire Hathaway company, is the global leader in press release distribution and regulatory disclosure. Investor relations, public relations, public policy and marketing professionals rely on Business Wire to accurately distribute market-moving news and multimedia, host online newsrooms and IR websites, build content marketing platforms, generate social engagements and provide audience analysis that improves interaction with specified target markets. Founded in 1961, Business Wire is a trusted source for news organizations, journalists, investment professionals and regulatory authorities, delivering news directly into editorial systems and leading online news sources via its multi-patented NX Network. Business Wire has 29 offices worldwide to securely meet the varying needs of communications professionals and news consumers.