MPAA hires for government and regulatory affairs Patrick Kilcur, ex-Senate floor staffer for Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., as vice president, and Ben Staub, ex-House Judiciary Committee Democratic staff, as director … Cox Enterprises hires Jennifer Prime, ex-FCC Wireline Bureau Competition Policy Division, as director-regulatory affairs … CBS promotes Barry Chamberlain to president-sales, CBS Studios International, working on traditional, VOD, digital and other content … YES Network President-CEO Tracy Dolgin remains in that role as 21st Century Fox buying majority of network (see separate report above in this issue) … Viacom’s Nickelodeon moves senior vice presidents Sarah Noonan to SVP-live action content and Jay Schmalholz for live event television … Entravision hires Andrew Polsky, ex-Spanish Broadcasting System, as vice president-national digital marketing solutions … Mformation Software Technologies that manages wirelessly connected devices hires as vice presidents: Christine Bolles, ex-Ericsson, for marketing and product management; Richard Barton, ex-Comverse, operations; Luca Ferrari, ex-Giesecke & Devrient, sales, Europe, Middle East and Africa; and Gabriel Camarena, whose past employers include Comverse and Gilat, for sales-Latin America … Nexstar adds Dennis Miller, TV Guide Network, to board, replacing Erik Brooks, Abry Partners, who retired as a director Jan. 16.
21st Century Fox’s Fox International Channels and RCN Television Group hire Ibra Morales, ex-Katz Television Group, as president of their joint venture MundoFox … Disney promotes Debra O'Connell to president, ABC National Television Sales, succeeding John Watkins, who had said he’s retiring at month’s end.
Stateside Associates state government affairs firm promotes Robert Holden to senior vice president … Larry Irving, consultant to international telecom and information technology companies and nonprofits, returns to Internet Innovation Alliance as co-chairman … Deputy U.S. Trade Representative Miriam Sapiro stepping down in February … New Viacom Program Acquisitions Group joining planning and analysis, inventory management, acquisition and buying activity for all Viacom Media Networks’ domestic program acquisitions to be led by: David Bernath, executive vice president-programming & multiplatform strategy, Comedy Central; and Executive Vice President Barbara Zaneri, promoted to that title for program acquisitions, new position.
Jones Day hires Bruce Olcott, ex-Squire Sanders, as partner, Government Regulation Practice, working on satellite, wireless and wireline issues … Best Best & Krieger promotes Gerard Lederer to partner in municipal law practice group, where he focuses on telecom law and government relations services … Entercom promotes Pat Paxton to president-programming … Viacom promotes Niels Schuurmans to executive vice president, Viacom Velocity Creative Content Solutions, new position that includes digital and cross-network campaigns and is part of Viacom Velocity’s integrated marketing initiative that just began and includes merging the company’s Music and Entertainment Integrated Marketing teams that now are under Dario Spina, executive vice president, Velocity Integrated Marketing … Ingo Money network for smartphones to access money from checks hires Matt Frye, ex-Visa, as senior vice president and head, network sales … ITV Studios America promotes Patrice Andrews to chief operating officer-East Coast … Telemundo Media promotes Allan Infeld to vice president-client development.
Harris Corp. promotes Tracey Haslam to president, Harris CapRock Communications … FirstLight Fiber hires Gary Kraemer, ex-Fidelis Security Systems, as chief financial officer and senior vice president; ex-CFO Sean Socha relocating to his hometown for family reasons … Suddenlink hires Katherine Payne, ex-Cox Communications, as senior vice president-chief programming officer, effective Feb. 24, succeeding Patricia McCaskill, retiring … Damballa cybersecurity firm hires David Earhart, ex-CA Technologies, as senior vice president-worldwide field operations, and Julie Preiss, ex-Dell SecureWorks, as vice president-marketing … magicJack VocalTec promotes Mary Kennon to vice president-customer experience.
Altman Vilandrie consulting firm promotes Laurence Wong to principal, advising on telecom, media and technology … Emerald Networks new undersea fiber network provider names Alan Clarke, ex-TE Connectivity, as chairman … Sprint names to board Marcelo Claure, Brightstar … Also elected to Cable & Telecommunications Association for Marketing board (CD Jan 17 p17) are Peter Ban, HBO, and Greg Butz, Comcast.
FCC Commissioner Mike O'Rielly names Susan Fisenne, ex-Consumer and Government Affairs Bureau, confidential assistant … Public Knowledge hires Gene Kimmelman, ex-New America Foundation Internet Freedom and Human Rights project, as president and CEO … Scott Blake Harris, of Wilkinson Barker, representing makers of consumer electronics, named to Department of Energy Appliance Standards and Rulemaking Committee … Crown Media promotes Kristen Roberts to executive vice president-pricing, planning & revenue management, expands Susanne McAvoy’s job to executive vice president-marketing, creative, and communications, and Michelle Vicary assumes oversight of program publicity and talent relations as executive vice president-programming and network publicity … Charter Communications hires Richard Schultz, ex-Cox Communications, as senior vice president-inbound sales & retention … Elected Cable & Telecommunications Association for Marketing chairwoman is Gemma Toner, Cablevision.
FCC Commissioner Ajit Pai names Jeffrey Neumann, detailed from Media Bureau’s Engineering Division, acting legal adviser for wireless, public safety and issues affecting the disabled … Willkie Farr promotes to partner Jonathan Friedman for Communications, Media & Privacy Department and Matthew Freimuth for antitrust and competition … Discovery Communications promotes JB Perrette to president, Discovery Networks International, replacing Mark Hollinger, who disclosed resignation in September … Scripps Networks Interactive promotes Tamara Franklin to executive vice president-digital … Among nominations Senate Commerce Committee approved, as it OK'd Terrell McSweeny to become FTC commissioner (CD Jan 15 p17), are Robert Simon as Office of Science and Technology Policy associate director-environment and energy.
FCC Commissioner Mike O'Rielly names acting legal advisers to that position permanently: Amy Bender for wireline and Erin McGrath for wireless, public safety and international issues … NERA Economic Consulting hires Jeff Eisenach, ex-Navigant, as senior vice president, and he remains American Enterprise Institute visiting scholar and director, Center for Internet, Communications and Technology Policy … Tribune hires Kathy Clements, ex-Belo Corp., which is being acquired by Gannett, as chief operating officer, broadcasting division, and Lynda King, ex-Local TV Holdings, which Tribune acquired last year, and also to that COO job.
FCC Commissioner Mike O'Rielly hires Courtney Reinhard, ex-office of Commissioner Ajit Pai, as senior legal adviser, handling legal issues, and chief of staff … Clear Channel Media and Entertainment Chairman and CEO John Hogan retiring, named chairman emeritus, as parent CC Media extends contract of Chairman and CEO Bob Pittman for five more years … NetMotion Wireless, which connects corporate employees’ mobile devices to applications, hires Erik Prusch, adviser to NetMotion owner Clearlake Capital Group and ex-Clearwire, as CEO, succeeding interim CEO Chris Gibbons, who remains a Clearlake adviser and on NetMotion’s board … Harley Geiger, ex-aide to Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., rejoins Center for Democracy & Technology as senior counsel and deputy director, Project on Freedom, Security and Surveillance … On Capitol Hill: Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, hires Paul Teller, ex-Republican Study Committee, as deputy chief of staff, effective Thursday … Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., hires include Chris Slevin, ex-office of Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, as legislative director, and Monique Waters, ex-office of Rep. Cedric Richmond, D-La., as press secretary.