FWV Bolsters Influencer and Social Strategy with New Vice President Appointment

RALEIGH, N.C. (Feb. 23, 2026) — French/​West/​Vaughan (FWV), one of the nation’s most highly decorated independent public relations, advertising and digital media agencies, is pleased to announce Drew Sykes as the agency’s new Vice President of Social Media & Influencer Marketing. In this role, Sykes will lead FWV’s social media and influencer strategy, expanding the agency’s expertise in brand storytelling across emerging platforms and creator ecosystems.

Sykes joins FWV from Ignite Social Media, where he most recently served as Director of Content Production, leading a team of content producers and social media specialists. His work included strategic content planning, cross-platform engagement initiatives and creator partnerships that supported brand growth and audience connection.

Prior to Ignite, Sykes helped shape and lead social media strategy for North Carolina State University (NC State), giving him a strong blend of strategic leadership, hands-on creative experience and platform expertise. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Creative Writing with a minor in Journalism from NC State and a master’s degree in Interactive Media from Elon University.

“As social media, influencer marketing, content creation and storytelling continue to converge and reshape how brands connect with audiences, this is a pivotal moment for FWV to further strengthen our authority and expertise in this space,” said FWV Chairman & CEO Rick French. ​“Drew brings exactly the kind of experience, energy and point of view that will help us continue to level up for our clients and our teams, and we look forward to seeing all he will do at the agency.”

FWV employs more than 140 public relations, public affairs, social media, advertising and digital marketing experts across its Raleigh, New York City, Los Angeles and Detroit offices. To learn more about careers at FWV, visit fwv​-us​.com/​C​a​reers.