GE promoted Eileen Whelley to exec. vp, NBC human resources… FCC International Bureau Policy Div. promotions: Howard Griboff to asst. chief, Paul Locke to asst. chief- engineering… Nextel Chmn. Timothy Donahue named chmn. of FCC’s Network Reliability & Interoperability Council, which is rechartered through Jan. 6, 2006… John Giere, ex- Ericsson, named Lucent chief mktg. officer… Harris Wiltshire & Grannis promoted Damon Ladson to partner… Added to telecom practice of Duane Morris LLP: Kennedy Keane, ex- Arter & Hadden… Damian Kunko, ex-Rural Broadband Coalition, joins Strategic Mktg. Innovations as senior consultant… Paul Zygielbaum, ex-Agilent, joins 5G Wireless as vp- operations… ACT Teleconferencing promoted Gen Warren to CEO, succeeding Gerald Van Eeckhout, who remains chmn… Changes at Charter’s Southeast Div.: Kirk Darfler, ex-AT&T Broadband, was named vp and gen. mgr., S.C. market; Anthony Bowling, ex-Comcast becomes vp-engineering/technical operations.
Safe Connections Act
Adam Goldman, ex-special asst. to President Bush and deputy dir.-White House Office of Public Liaison, joins EIA as dir.-govt. & corporate affairs… Mike McCarley advanced to dir.-mktg. & communications, NBC Olympics… Dan Harrison, ex-Fox Sports Group, named vp-strategic program planning, Bravo Network… Joseph Larussa promoted to Cingular vp-gen. mgr. for Ala., Miss. and La…. Gustavo Guzman will advance to CEO, Grupo Iusacell; Jose Elcoro named gen. dir.- administration… Joining ATIS board: Ed Kennedy, Tellabs; Craig Forbes, net.com… Thomas Lesica, ex-NewRoads, named vp-global information technology and business operations, Avaya… Peter Trepp appointed pres.-COO, 5G Wireless… Andrew Dick, ex-DoJ, named principal in competition practice, Charles River Assoc.
The European Space Agency’s (ESA) 15 member states decided Tues. to support Arianespace in its continued production of the generic Ariane 5 launcher, ESA said. The company announced in Feb. that it planned to order 6 additional Ariane 5G launchers in the wake of the failure of the 10-ton Ariane 5 (CD Feb 3 p9). ESA also approved implementation of a plan to intensify govt. use of the 10-ton Ariane 5 and to create launch cooperation between countries, it said. In a response to the decisions, Arianespace said it would be collaborating with Russia and using the Soyuz launcher from French Guyana: “These decisions will enable Arianespace to meet all customer requirements by offering a range of launchers… covering all commercial and government missions requirements.” Arianespace said that the decisions would “guarantee the long-term viability of the company.”
Arianespace will order more Ariane 5G launch vehicles for production, company announced after board approval Fri. Ariane 5G preceded “10-ton” Ariane 5 and was scheduled to be phased out of production, spokeswoman said. Company will produce 6 additional launchers, which will be available in 2004. “With this decision, Arianespace will be able to ensure the continuity of its launch services,” company said.
Mark Floyd steps down as pres.-CEO of Siemens U.S.; Chmn. Thomas Ganswindt will oversee operations until replacement is named… Jerry Dix, ex-Prepaid Technologies, elected pres.-CEO, 5G Wireless… Robert Crandall, ex-CEO, American Airlines and TWA, named senior adviser to AirTV, which plans to provide broadband TV, audio and Internet connections to flying aircraft… Lee Masters, ex-E! Entertainment and Liberty Digital, joins board of Artistdirect… Universal Service Administrative Co. (USAC) board elections: Joel Lubin, AT&T, vice chmn.; James Jackson, General Communications, secy.; Ed Eicher, Pigeon Telephone, treas… Charter Senior Vp-Advanced Technology Tom Jokerst joins advisory board of Cedar Point Communications… Larry Wangberg, chmn.- CEO, TechTV, elected to Charter board… Pa. Senate unanimously confirmed Kim Pizzingrilli as Pa. PUC’s 5th member.