Verizon promotes Eric Fitzgerald Reed to lead public policy initiatives with high-tech and entertainment industries, based in San Francisco … Information and Technology Innovation Foundation hires Justin Hicks, recent Ph.D. in economics from University of California at Merced, as economist … Martha Stewart Living hires Michael Robinson, ex-Anthropologie, as vice president of e-commerce, new position … Univision promotes Rosemary Mercedes to vice president-corporate communications … Lobbyist Registrations: Universal Music Group, Podesta Group, effective April 23.
Lobbyist Registrations: Comcast, Hannegan, Landau Advocacy, effective June 1 … Verizon, Cauthen, Forbes and Williams, April 1.
Charter Communications’ Steve Apodaca leaving company, where he was president of operations … Univision Communications promotes David Beck to vice president-general manager of new social media team … Spanish Broadcasting System hires Alfredo Schwarz, ex-Univision Network, as MegaTV vice president of operations and production.
News Corp.’s Fox Networks Group business and legal affairs promotions: Kelly Cline named executive vice president-entertainment for Fox Cable Networks, where Matthew Bensen and Phillip Gharabegian become senior vice president-network distribution, former for network distribution and later for sports … Changes at ESPN Star Sports as part of News Corp. buying ESPN’s stake (see report above): Star Managing Director Manu Sawhney leaving, being replaced by Peter Hutton of Fox International Channels … Univision Communications hires Rachel Gross, ex-AOL, as senior vice president of event marketing … Blue Calypso digital ad company hires Bill Ogle, ex-Google’s Motorola Mobility, as chairman and CEO.
General Communication Inc. promotes Greg Chapados to executive vice president and chief operating officer, replacing Wilson Hughes, named CEO of new wireless venture (see report above) … Drinker Biddle hires Douglas Bonner, ex-SNR Denton, as partner in government and regulatory affairs group and telecom and mass media team … FCBA election winners include: Joe Di Scipio, Fox Television Stations, president-elect; Bob Branson, Verizon, secretary; Monica Desai, Patton Boggs, assistant secretary; Chris Wright, Wilshire Grannis, assistant treasurer … Spanish Broadcasting System promotes Alex Aleman to senior vice president of consolidated operations … Jefferies Group hires from UBS as managing directors covering Internet and interactive entertainment companies Brian Pitz and Brian Fitzgerald.
FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel names Priscilla Delgado Argeris, ex-Wiley Rein, as legal adviser on wireline and consumer issues, Valery Galasso, ex-office of Vice President Joe Biden, as confidential assistant and special adviser … Disney promotes John Idler to president and general manager of WLS-TV (ABC) Chicago … Verizon New Jersey President Dennis Bone to retire July 6; Jim Gerace, head of government and external affairs for New York and Connecticut region, adds those duties for New Jersey … Journal Communications hires Jason Graham, ex-Brookdale Senior Living, as vice president and corporate controller … Martha Stewart Living hires Casey Bukawyn, ex-Perry Ellis International, as executive vice president of global licensing … Style Media promotes Sarah Weidman to senior vice president of original programming and development, new position … Lobbyist Registrations: Level 3, Breaux Lott Leadership Group, effective April 25 … Viacom cable networks music and entertainment brands names as vice president: Pete Chelala, ex-Weather Channel, for mobile product and sales; and promotes Deborah Schlessinger-Brett for mobile sales.
Wilkinson Barker hires David Oxenford, ex-Davis Wright, as partner … Ciena adds Manuel Medina, Medina Capital Partners, to board.
Joshua Cinelli, former aide to ex-FCC Commissioner Michael Copps, hired by Ford Foundation as manager of strategic communications and media relations … Communications consultant Apco Worldwide rehires Mike Tuffin, ex-America’s Health Insurance Plans, as managing director of Washington, D.C., headquarters … GlobeCast promotes Philippe Fort to CEO of Netia, as the unit’s founders Christophe Carniel and Pierre Keiflin depart … F5 Networks elevates Dave Feringa to executive vice president of worldwide sales, replacing Mark Anderson, who resigned.
CableLabs hires Phil McKinney, ex-Hewlett-Packard, as president and CEO, replacing Paul Liao who previously said he’s leaving … Andy Start leaving Harris Corp. to become global government business president at Inmarsat … Michele Woods leaving U.S. Copyright Office as associate register for policy and international affairs for World Intellectual Property Organization, where she’s named director of Copyright Law Division for the Culture and Creative Industries Sector effective June 4 … NTIA Press Secretary Moira Vahey leaving … Lumos Networks names Joseph McCourt, ex-1901 Group, executive vice president and chief revenue officer … Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies adds Carolyn Kilpatrick, ex-U.S. Democratic representative from Michigan, and Freada Kapor Klein, philanthropist, to three-year terms on board of governors … Named to TechAmerica Foundation commission on ‘big data': Steve Mills, IBM; and Steve Lucas, SAP, chairmen; Teresa Carlson, Amazon Web Services; and Bill Perlowitz, Wyle, vice chairmen; other members include Raghu Ramakrishnan, Microsoft; and David Shacochis, CenturyLink’s Savvis … NBCUniversal promotes Alicia Muntzner to vice president-advertising sales for Style Media, new position.
FCC appoints Ronald Brisé, Florida Public Service Commission, to Universal Service Administrative Co. board to represent state telecom regulators, filling vacant position that was occupied by Randy Mitchell of South Carolina … Derek Chang leaving DirecTV as executive vice president of content strategy and development at year’s end, being replaced by Dan York, ex-AT&T, who in early July will become executive vice president of programming and chief content officer.