Centennial Communications Corp. announced that Michael N. Simkin was appointed president of the company, after Jeff E. Rhodes, the company’s previous president and founder, resigned his position to pursue other interests. He will continue as a consultant to the company. Simkin, also chief executive officer of Century, joined the company last July. Simkin previously was vice president and general manager for PrimeCo Personal Communications L.P., where he led a team that designed, built and operated the first personal communications services system in south Florida. Century was founded in October 1995 and provides specialized mobile radio services focusing on emerging markets like Latin America.
Motorola Inc. announced it has appointed Greg Townsend to vice president and general manager of its new Worldwide Data Solutions Division. Townsend formerly was vice president and general manager of Motorola’s Radio Network Solutions Group’s Asia/Pacific Division.
Omnipoint Communications Inc. announced the promotion of Carl Hansen to director of regulatory affairs. He now heads the department’s efforts to analyze and oversee local, state and federal legislative initiatives that impact the personal communications services provider. Hansen joined Omnipoint last February as a manager of state regulatory affairs. Prior to his employment with Omnipoint, Hansen spent 24 years at Nynex Corp., most recently as director of wireless interconnection. In 1995, he left Nynex to become a consultant, spending two years directing both wireless and wireline interconnections for several clients including Bellcore, where he also provided regulatory and technical analysis of the Telecommunications Act of 1996.
Paging Network Inc. appointed John S. Llewellyn Jr. to its board of directors. Llewellyn is the retired president and chief executive officer of Ocean Spray Cranberries Inc. He joined Ocean Spray in 1982 as the senior vice president of marketing and was appointed president and chief executive officer in 1987. He retired from the company in early 1997.
The Personal Communications Industry Association named Alan Ciamporcero senior vice president and chief of staff for government relations. Ciamporcero is an attorney and was formerly vice president for Pacific Telesis in Washington, D.C. He coordinated Federal Communications Commission relations and federal strategies on issues such as universal service, access reform, interconnection and personal communications services auctions. Ciamporcero has published articles on telecommunications issues in various law publications.
