President Barack Obama will nominate Kelly Welsh, Northern Trust Corp., as Department of Commerce general counsel … Duane Morris hires from Woodcock Washburn David Wolfsohn and Aleksander Goranin as partners in Intellectual Property Litigation practice in Philadelphia office … Clear Channel hires Steven Macri, ex-LogicSource, as chief financial officer … Harris Broadcast hires Pablo Gargiulo, formerly of Xtera Communications, as president-global sales, names sales executives to head regions including Chris Ziemer, North America; Mathias Eckert, Europe, Middle East and Africa; and, for Asia, Joe Khodeir and JiShun Mei … Fusion, new TV and digital network joint venture of Disney and Univision Communications, names Isaac Lee, who remains at Univision News, as CEO … Christopher Rutherford, ex-Homedics, hired by Wilson Electronics as vice president-sales and marketing; Jeffrey Gudewicz, ex-RF Micro Devices, named director-business development and product line management … Qualcomm elects Clark Randt, ex-U.S. ambassador to China, to board … Westell board elects Thomas Gruenwald, ex-Tellabs, a director.
Covington & Burling hires Roger Zakheim, ex-U.S. House Armed Services Committee as general counsel, as of counsel to work in global public policy and government affairs and defense, homeland and national security practices, effective Nov. 4 … Software & Information Industry Association hires Heather Cejovic, ex-Computer Fulfillment, as director-sponsorships and recruitment.
Fox Sports promotes Chris Hannan to executive vice president-communications and integration, new position … MPAA board member Rick Finkelstein, 64, Universal Studios, dies … ViaWest collocation services provider hires Todd Meester, ex-Level 3, as regional vice president and general manager-Minnesota region … Lightwave Logic names Siraj Nour El-Ahmadi, Menara Networks, a director, replacing Ross Fasick, retiring Nov. 1 and continuing as special adviser of the developer of applications for high-speed fiber-optic data communications and optical computing.
CBS promotes John Orlando to executive vice president-government affairs, following retirement (CD May 30 p19) of Marty Franks, whose responsibilities had included running the broadcaster’s Washington office … Charter Communications hires Alexander Hoehn-Saric, ex-aide to FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel, as senior vice president-government affairs … National Religious Broadcasters board hires Jerry Johnson, ex-Criswell College, as president and CEO, effective Nov. 1 … Western Telecommunications Alliance elects as new officers for coming two years: Mark Gailey, Totah Communications, president; Paul Kelly, Cordova Telephone Cooperative, vice president; and Brad Veis, 3 Rivers Communications, secretary-treasurer … California Broadcasters Association elects to board for 2014-15 term: Jaime Jimenez, Univision Radio, chairman; Marko Radlovic, Team Cumulus/LA, vice chairman; Miles Sexton, Point Broadcasting, secretary; Greg Ashlock, Clear Channel, treasurer; and Val Maki, Emmis, executive at-large … Gladys Brown sworn in as commissioner on Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission after state Senate voted unanimously to confirm her.
USTelecom promotes Anne Veigle, ex-Warren Communications News, to senior vice president-communications … Nielsen Vice Chairwoman Susan Whiting retiring at year’s end … Microsoft promotes Janet Kennedy to president, Microsoft Canada … Global Telecom & Technology hires Corey Eng, ex-Comcast Business Services, as chief marketing officer of Internet Protocol network company … Local TV promotes Jim Himes to president and general manager, WGHP High Point, N.C. … Entercom hires Phil Zachary, ex-Curtis Media Group, as vice president and market manager, Boston … Comcast promotes David Tashjian to vice president-sales and marketing, Mile High Region.
Verizon promotes Michael Maiorana to senior vice president-public sector markets, Verizon Enterprise Solutions, succeeding Susan Zeleniak, retired … DirecTV hires Adam Braff, ex-JPMorgan Chase, as senior vice president-business analytics … Radisys hires Steve Collins, ex-Sonus Networks, as vice president-global sales of wireless infrastructure company.
President Barack Obama names Renée James, Intel, to President’s National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee … Sheppard Mullin telecom practice hires for Business Trial practice group in Washington Susan Stith, ex-Texas Public Utility Commission, as special counsel, and Amanda Lanham, ex-Kaye Scholer, as associate … LIN Media Executive Vice President-Television Scott Blumenthal to retire Dec. 31, be succeeded by Vice President Jay Howell, who will have oversight of TV … WWE hires Laura Brevetti, ex-K&L Gates, as senior vice president-general counsel and secretary … Disney names Lisa Berger, ex-E Networks, as ABC executive vice president-alternative series, specials and late-night … Gannett hires Marc Kidd, ex-Outdoor Channel Holdings, as CEO of Captivate Network for digital ads, which is being spun off (see separate report in this issue), and Mark Shapiro, ex-Dick Clark Productions, as chairman … EdgeCast Networks hires John Powers, formerly of eHarmony.com, as chief financial officer; outgoing CFO Mike Kleiman named chief operating officer … Sinclair Broadcast Group director Basil Thomas, 98, died.
Alaska Communications hires Randy Ritter, ex-high-technology consultant, as senior vice president-managed services … Tribune Broadcasting’s Roger Bare named senior vice president/general manager, KDAF Dallas, succeeding Joe Young, retiring (CD Sept 25 p24); Bare remains general manager, KIAH Houston … Information Technology and Innovation Foundation elects ex-Rep. Phil English, R-Pa., co-chairman, replacing Nancy Johnson, stepping down from that position but remaining on the board … NPower names Mike Gregoire, CA Technologies, to board of nonprofit working on science, technology, engineering and math.
Hogan Lovells communications practice recently hired as associates Deborah Broderson, ex-FCC Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, Wesley Platt, ex-Wireline Bureau, and Carly Didden, ex-Patton Boggs … Wiltshire & Grannis hires Jennifer Bagg, ex-Communications Law Counsel, as partner on state and federal telecom regulation … Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission Commissioner Larry Landis to retire in January … President Barack Obama plans to nominate Catherine Ann Novelli, Apple, as State Department undersecretary for economic growth, energy and the environment … Information Technology Industry Council Vice President-External Affairs Tom Gavin hired by Salesforce.com, to work in its Washington office as senior director-industry branding, effective early next month.
Sandra “Dee” Lord, ex-Social Security Administration, hired by International Trade Commission as administrative law judge … Council for Research Excellence adds Artie Bulgrin, ESPN, and Susie Thomas, Palisades Media Group, as members … Cincinnati Bell promotes Leigh Fox to succeed Kurt Freyberger, resigning as chief financial officer, effective Oct. 1 … Tribune’s Joe Young retiring as general manager, KDAF Dallas, effective Oct. 11 … NTCA promotes Laura Withers to director-communications … Cable & Telecommunications Association for Marketing elects to board Jennifer Ball, Univision Communications, and Megan Rock, The Weather Co.