JW Player, online and mobile video firm, hires Eric Hoffert, ex-Spotify, as chief technology officer and executive vice president-product, and John Luther, ex-Google, as vice president-devices … Tribune Broadcasting hires Chris Topf, ex-WNWO-TV Toledo, Ohio, as vice president and general manager of WPMT York, Pennsylvania … Jean-Paul Philippot, CEO of Belgian public broadcaster RTBF, re-elected European Broadcasting Union president for a fourth term; Anna Maria Tarantola, president of Italian public broadcaster RAI, newly elected EBU vice president … AT&T adds Glenn Hutchins, ex-Silver Lake, to board … Media Institute First Amendment Advisory Council adds Joshua Wheeler, The Thomas Jefferson Center for the Protection of Free Expression.
AOptix, ultra-high capacity wireless communications technology provider, hires Jan Kang, ex-Cupertino Electric, as vice president-general counsel … SMS/800 hires Alan Stiffler, ex-Neustar, as vice president-business development … Cox Enterprises moves Charles Odom to vice president-treasurer… Gogo adds Christopher Payne, eBay, to board.
FCC names Andrew Woelfling, leaving office of Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich., as deputy director, Office of Legislative Affairs … Charter Communications hires James Nuzzo, ex-Cablevision, as executive vice president-business planning … Francis Yip promoted to group vice president-Verizon Asia Pacific … Beasley Broadcast Vice President and Philadelphia Market Manager Natalie Conner retiring … Envivio, any-screen software-based video processing and delivery firm, hires Judith Coley, ex-Vuclip, as vice president-corporate and investor communications … Broadcasters Foundation of America elects to board: Peter Dunn, CBS Television Stations; David Lougee, Gannett Broadcasting; Beth Neuhoff, Neuhoff Communications; and Mike O'Neill, Broadcast Music Inc. … Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association elects Linda Gooden, ex-Lockheed Martin, as AFCEA International board chairwoman.
Mintz Levin hires Paul Abbott, ex-Massachusetts Department of Telecommunications and Cable, as of counsel, returning to the law firm, where he will work on cable and broadband provider matters … Pandora hires David Gerbitz, ex-Yahoo, as executive vice president-revenue operations; Pandora General Counsel Delida Costin departs, effective end of September … IO, software-defined data center technology and software firm, hires Bob Olson, ex-GoDaddy, as chief customer officer.
Returning to Kelley Drye is Mark Anderson, ex-office of Rep. Lee Terry, R-Neb., as senior adviser, Government Relations and Public Policy practice group, where he will work on issues including cybersecurity; also hired for that practice group is Scott McGee, ex-office of Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., as adviser … One Media, the Coherent Logix and Sinclair project to bring a next-generation broadcast platform to market faster than ATSC 3.0, hires Kevin Gage, ex-NAB, as executive vice president-chief technology officer.
FCC Wireless Bureau promotes Chris Helzer to chief engineer … At FCBA, Executive Director Stan Zenor retiring, effective July 31, and then will be a consultant to it on special events and projects. Elections include: Christopher Wright, Harris Wiltshire, president-elect; Lee Petro, Drinker Biddle, secretary; Julie Kearney, CEA, assistant secretary; Erin Dozier, NAB, assistant secretary; on executive committee: Brendan Carr, FCC; Christine Crowe, Wilkinson Barker; and Angela Kronenberg, Comptel; on nominations committee: Anna Gomez, Wiley Rein; Grace Koh, House Commerce Committee; and Richard Whitt, Motorola Mobility; and foundation trustees: Mia Guizzetti Hayes, Willkie Farr; Russell Hanser, Wilkinson Barker; Jennifer Holtz, NTIA; and Howard Weiss, Fletcher Heald … UTStarcom elevates director Himanshu Shah to chairman, replacing Xiaoping Li, who remains on the board.
EarthLink promotes Peter Chronis to chief security officer … Resigning from LightSquared board are Phil Falcone and four others appointed by Harbinger Capital Partners … NAB board actions: On TV board, Dave Lougee, Gannett Broadcasting, named chairman, replacing Marci Burdick, Schurz Communications, now second vice chairwoman, and Brian Lawlor, E.W. Scripps, is now first vice chairman; on executive committee, Kevin Cuddihy, Univision, named designated network TV representative, replacing Brandon Burgess, Ion; on radio board, Mary Quass, NRG Media, is first vice chairwoman, Pat Walsh, Emmis Communications, is second vice chairman, and Dan Mason, CBS Radio, is radio board’s major group representative on the NAB executive committee … Lobbyist registrations: Amazon.com, Akin Gump, effective May 1 … NACHA -- The Electronic Payments Association, Rich Feuer, effective June 2.
MPAA Senior Executive Vice President-Global Policy and External Affairs Michael O'Leary to step down, will have an advisory role during transition … Technology CEO Council names CR Wooters, who remains principal at Mehlman Vogel, deputy executive director.
National Association for Multi-ethnicity in Communications hires Eglon Simons, ex-Cablevision, as president and CEO, replacing Alicin Williamson, Raben Group, who was interim executive leader, and promotions include Vice President-Education Programs and Diversity Solutions James Jones to also be executive director, NAMIC Foundation, new position … U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit Judge Randall Rader retiring, after recently stepping down as its chief judge after he said his letter of praise to a lawyer breached his ethical obligations (CD May 28 p12).
NAB extends contract of President and CEO Gordon Smith to Dec. 31, 2018 … National Institute of Standards and Technology promotes Willie May to acting director, and he is designated acting undersecretary for standards and technology, as ex-NIST Director Pat Gallagher was hired by University of Pittsburgh … Internet Association hires Noah Theran, ex-Private Equity Growth Capital Council, as communications director, succeeding Betsy Barrett, hired by Glover Park Group as vice president, Strategic Communications division, working for media, technology and telecom clients … Charter Communications names Time Warner Cable Senior Vice President and Treasurer Matthew Siegel as chief financial officer of SpinCo, cable company to be spun off from Comcast after Comcast/Time Warner Cable deal and Comcast divests cable systems to Charter, and he will remain in job at Time Warner Cable until its sale to Comcast is completed … Tremor Video promotes Katie Seitz to vice president-strategy and operations.