Powertel Inc. added three new executives to its management team. Michael C. Lothspeich is the new vice president of sales in the company’s corporate office. He will be responsible for Powertel’s sales and distribution strategy through mass retailers, company-owned retail stores, outside sales and alternative distribution channels. Prior to joining the company, Lothspeich held several management positions with Alltel Mobile Corp., GTE Mobilnet and Cellular One.
Rodney D. Dir was named executive vice president and general manager of personal communications services for Powertel’s Atlanta major trading area. Most recently, Dir was an area general manager with GTE Mobilnet in California. He will be responsible for all marketing and sales activities, customer service, buildout of the Global System for Mobile communications system, network operations and finance for the Atlanta MTA.
The new vice president of network operations for the Atlanta MTA is James Paul Coovert Jr. He will manage network operations and network buildout in Atlanta. He has held several management positions with telephone companies including Turnkey Wireless Solutions Inc., Northern Telecom and BellSouth Corp.
GTE Airfone Inc. named Hardy White vice president of the newly created technical operations department. He will oversee end-to-end provisioning of the Advanced Digital Airfone service including repair, maintenance engineering and product assurance functions. White has been with GTE since 1966 when he was an exchange repair technician. He held positions including installation and maintenance foreman, Phone Mart administrator and division manager. In 1994, he was named general manager of customer operations and in June he was named interim president for the Texas/New Mexico region.
Vanguard Cellular Systems Inc. has promoted several of its senior officers. Haynes G. Griffin, previously president and chief executive officer, has been appointed chairman of the board of directors. Stephen R. Leeolou, formerly executive vice president and chief operating officer, is the new president. Griffin and Leeolou will share the CEO position.
Senior Vice Presidents Stephen L. Holcombe, Richard C. Rowlenson, Timothy G. Blitz, Dennis B. Francis and S. Tony Gore III were named executive vice presidents. Holcombe is the company’s chief financial officer, and Rowlenson is general counsel for the company. Blitz also was appointed president of U.S. wireless operations.
“The principal reason for Vanguard’s success in growing its business for more than a decade has been its strong management team,” said L. Richardson Preyer Jr., vice chairman and executive vice president. “I am excited about these well-deserved promotions, and particularly about the elevation of Haynes Griffin to chairman and Steve Leeolou to president.”
Cylink Corp. named Fernand B. Sarrat president and chief executive officer to succeed Lewis C. Morris who retired in June.
Prior to joining Cylink, Sarrat was director of marketing for IBM Corp. In addition, he was director of planning for IBM’s AS/400 launch and was instrumental to the company’s introduction of the Value Point PC line.
“Fernand brings to Cylink proven marketing and sales capabilities and entrepreneurial talent that will be crucial to leveraging Cylink’s new product lines and driving growth as the company moves from its technology-driven roots to a broad-based customer-driven strategy,” said Dr. Leo A. Guthart, Cylink chairman. “Fernand also brings a deep understanding of Internet applications and the infrastructure required to enable them.”
Alcatel Telecom hired Stephanie McCullough as business development manager. In her new position, she will be responsible for international market and business development with NAFTA area wireless communications operators and will serve as a government association liaison. McCullough comes to Alcatel from the International Trade Administration’s Office of Telecommunications, part of the Department of Commerce.
Reflection Technology Inc., a developer and manufacturer of display technology and wireless messaging, promoted three members of its management team. Richard D. Lane is now executive vice president and chief operating officer, Robert J. LaRoche is vice president and Richard J. Snyder is vice president of operations.
Lane will oversee sales, marketing, operations, business development and engineering. He has been with the company since 1994 when he was vice president of sales and marketing. LaRoche will be responsible for domestic and international sales of Reflection’s products. The company said he was instrumental in introducing the FaxView personal fax reader to the international market. Snyder has been with Reflection since 1989 when he was director of operations. He has managed all procurement, sourcing and manufacturing efforts as well as handling facility and company expansion responsibilities.
MobiLink has appointed Steve Spradlin its new managing director. Spradlin has been with the company since 1995 as director of service development and support. He succeeds T.R. “Tim” McChesney, who was president and chief executive officer of the company. The company said it offers roaming services and other state-of-the-art cellular enhancements to more than 216 million people.
