Changes at MPAA: Michael O'Leary promoted to senior executive vice president-global policy and external affairs; Laura Nichols becomes executive vice president-global communications; Lori McGrogan, ex-Capitol Hill aide to MPAA Chairman Chris Dodd, becomes senior advisor to him … Gannett Chairman and CEO Craig Dubow taking a leave for medical reasons; President Gracia Martore to be principal executive officer, as she was during Dubow’s medical leave in 2009 … Gary Marsh promoted to president-Disney Channels Worldwide, replacing Carolina Lightcap … Current TV names Shelley Lewis, ex-PBS, executive vice president-programming … Bravo promotes Dave Serwatka to vice president-current & cross platform productions.
Comcast promotes Jason Livingood to vice president-Internet systems … Scott Libin, ex-WCCO-TV Minneapolis, becomes Internet Broadcasting vice president-content solutions …
Kimberly Reindl, ex-Hogan Lovells, joins Akin Gump as senior counsel in its communications and information technology practice … Dish Network names Warren Schlichting, ex-Comcast, senior vice president-media sales … Style Network names Bryan Mu, ex-Sony Pictures TV, vice president-research … Stephen Mitchell, TE Connectivity, joins TIA board.
Rebecca Arbogast, ex-Stifel Nicolaus, becomes Comcast vice president-global public policy …
Mike Castellano, ex-aide to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., joins Walt Disney Co. as vice president-government relations, focusing on intellectual property and trade issues.
Miami attorney Braulio Baez to become Florida Public Service Commission executive director … Scripps Networks Interactive names Henry Ahn, ex-NBC Universal, executive vice president-content distribution and marketing strategy … Sony Ericsson changes: Paul Hamnet promoted to head of North America region; Jorge Juarez, ex-Ericsson, becomes head of Mexico-Central America region; Jorge Aguiar, ex-Ericsson, to head South America region; Ricardo Gaibor, ex-Brightstar, becomes head of distribution and retail-Latin America … DirecTV promotes Patrick Crumb to president-DirecTV Sports Networks … Twentieth Century Fox TV Distribution promotes Cristina Mancini to senior vice president-worldwide marketing … Discovery Networks promotes to senior vice president: Marc Etkind for content strategy, Planet Green; Ed Hersh for Military Channel content strategy; Sara Kozak for Military Channel and Planet Green production; Doug Seybert for marketing at both channels; Rita Mullin for content strategy, Discovery Fit & Health.
Paul Cancienne, ex-telecom aide to Rep. Mary Bono Mack, R-Calif., becomes general counsel to Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., handling tech and telecom issues, replacing Lee Dunn, who left for Google … Barkley Kern returns to C-SPAN as vice president-digital media … Bob Cook, MBN Inc., becomes strategic adviser to Tribune Broadcasting … Michael Luisi promoted to president, WWE Studios … Randy Earley, ex-SuperMedia, becomes Cox Enterprises vice president-audit services … Sundance Channel names Suzy Berkowitz, ex-Entertainment Weekly, senior vice president-public relations.
Nils Larsen, Tribune Co., joins NAB TV board … Sony hires Philip Reitinger, ex-Department of Homeland Security, as senior vice president and chief information security officer … Chris Murray, ex-Clearwire, becomes EarthLink senior vice president-public policy, effective Sept. 12 … Nilmini Rubin, ex-Senate Foreign Relations Committee staff, to join Information Technology Industry Council as director-government relations … North American Broadcasters Association’s Vassilios Mimis to represent it at the ITU … Qualcomm names Anastassia Lauterbach, ex-Deutsche Telekom, head of European business operations … Conexant Systems hires Carl Mills, ex-SiPort, as chief financial officer … Changes at Martha Stewart Omnimedia: Ken West, ex-Marvel, becomes chief financial officer; Geoffrey Darby, ex-Weather Channel, named general manager-TV division.
David Robbins, ex-Small Business Administration, becomes FCC managing director, effective Sept. 12, replacing Steve VanRoekel, who left earlier this year for a post at USAID and is currently the U.S. chief technology officer … James Breyer, Accel Partners, to join News Corp. board.
Univision promotes Greg Osborne to vice president-network sales, Western region.