Heinz Corp.
Heinz Corp., which provides services to wireless carriers, has promoted Rick Vogt to senior project manager. In his new position he will be responsible for Heinz’s projects for Cingular Wireless. Vogt has been with Heinz for about a year, and most recently supervised turnkey construction of a new wireless system to serve southwest Missouri, including site acquisition, project management and construction of more than 40 tower sites. Before joining Heinz, Vogt was a project manager with Lucent Technologies Inc. and its predecessor companies for 30 years.
Nokia Networks
Nokia Networks announced its board of directors re-elected Jorma Ollila, chief executive officer, to chair the board and decided Paul J. Collins will continue as vice chairman of the board. Nokia’s board of directors also elected members to the committees of the board. Collins, Bengt Holmstrom, Marjorie Scardino and Vesa Vainio were elected to the personnel committee. Robert F.W. van Oordt, Georg Ehrnrooth and Arne Wessberg will serve on the Audit Committee. And Collins, Holmstrom and Vainio were also chosen to serve on the nomination committee.
Esemde Wireless Messaging
Eric Ensor, president and chief executive officer of Evolution Networks Inc., has been named an adviser to Esemde Wireless Messaging, a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) for short message service and GPRS data applications. As a member of Esemde’s board of advisers, Ensor will help the company capitalize on its technology platform that allows SMS to be deployed across multiple U.S. wireless standards. Before joining Evolution Networks, which provides broadband connectivity and infrastructure, Ensor served as president of BellSouth Personal Communications Inc. He has also held executive positions at Telecom Wireless Solutions and Nynex Mobile Communications. “Ensor’s ability to conceptualize and develop business opportunities in the telecommunications industry will be invaluable,” commented Stephen Dye, president of Esemde.
Telstra Corp. Ltd.
Telstra Corp. Ltd. named Dick Simpson president of Telstra International, its new business group that will manage interests in the Asia-Pacific region. Simpson previously served as Telstra OnAir’s group managing director. According to Telstra, Simpson’s appointment is a reflection of his extensive experience in direct operations and international joint ventures in Europe and Asia. He was also responsible for Telstra’s recent negotiations with Pacific Century CyberWorks and for Telstra’s domestic mobile business. David Thodey will take Simpson’s place as Telstra OnAir’s group managing director. He has held various positions at IBM since 1978, most recently chief executive officer and managing director of IBM Australia and New Zealand. Thodey is also deputy chairman of AIIA, a member of the NSW chamber of commerce and director of global services Australia and the Macquarie Graduate School of Management. Simpson and Thodey plan to initially work closely to ensure a smooth transition.
Leap Wireless International Inc.
Leap Wireless International Inc. appointed Richard Meston vice president of its northwest region. Meston will work from Leap’s regional headquarters in Spokane, Wash., and will oversee rollout of Cricket Service, Leap’s flat-rate wireless service, in the northwestern United States. Meston’s 17 years of experience in wireless communications management in the northwestern U.S. include positions at Telecomm Consultants Northwest, AT&T Wireless Services Inc. and U.S. West New Vector Group Inc. Leap also announced Fred Fonseca has been appointed vice president of its northeast region. Fonseca will oversee the launch of Cricket in the northeastern United States from his regional headquarters in Pittsburgh. Fonseca has 20 years of experience in wireless communication management, which includes positions he held at PrimeCo Personal Communications L.P., McKenzie Telecommunications Group Inc., Bell Atlantic Mobile, McCaw Cellular and MCI.
V-Comm
V-Comm recently named Lawrence Thomas manager of engineering, Steven Falcone controller and Barbara McNally human resources and accounting manager. Thomas is responsible for leading engineers in network design and deployment, systems integration and interconnection contracts for clients. He has more than 27 years of experience in telecommunications, most recently as regional network manager at Comcast Cellular. His background also includes positions with GTE and Loral Technical and Training Corp. and more than 20 years in the U.S. Navy working with electronics and data systems. As controller, Falcone will manage finances and employee recruitment. As manager of human resources and accounting, McNally will work closely with Falcone. She will manage all HR functions and supervise the accounting department. She previously served as an MIS coordinator and managed computer networks.
TIA
Edward Kientz, president of Benner-Nawman Inc., has been named chairman of the Telecommunications Industry Association’s board of directors. Kientz has held the positions of secretary, vice chairman and chairman on the TIA’s board of directors and has served on TIA’s Supercomm Committee and the Small Business Committee. He has been with Benner-Nawman Inc., a company his grandfather started in 1925, since 1971. Of his new office, Kientz said, “My goal as chairman is to ensure continued success of TIA in the evolving communications market by fostering a competitive market environment and supporting critical legislative, regulatory, market and standards development initiatives that impact members’ businesses and affect market growth.” TIA has also named James Romlein, president of MIS Labs, to chair its Technical Committee. The committee is responsible for establishing TIA’s broad technical policies, including the organization and operating policies of the Standards and Technology Department and the TIA engineering committees. Romlein, who has been a TIA board member for the past five years, is involved in several other organizations dedicated to technological advancement including the U.S. National Committee to the International Electrotechnical Commission, the U.S. Technical Advisory Group, the National Electrical Code Panel and Power Quality Magazine.
Symbian
Symbian announced the appointment of Gilles Allain to vice president of business management. As VP, Gilles will work with handset manufacturers to deploy a range of Symbian-based smart phones and communicators globally. “With his 12 years of experience in the telecom industry and extensive contacts with operators, Gilles will play a key role in managing our relations with the rapidly growing community of Symbian licensees,” said Mark Edwards, executive vice president of sales and marketing for Symbian.
ComSpace Corp.
ComSpace Corp. added Annette Gieseman to its senior management team as vice president and chief marketing officer. She will be responsible for market assessment, planning and development activities to drive market penetration and awareness of the company’s products and engineering expertise. Gieseman has more than 18 years of marketing and management experience in the telecommunications industry. She has held positions at Xybridge Technologies, Nortel Networks, DSC Communications and Teleport Communications Group.
FBI
Ronald L. Dick has been named deputy assistant director of the FBI’s National Infrastructure and Computer Intrusion Program and as director at the National Infrastructure Protection Center.
Verizon Wireless
Paul Nash has been made director of federal affairs at Verizon Wireless. Nash formerly was telecom aid to Sen. Tim Johnson (D-S.D.).
Wireless Communications Association International
The Wireless Communications Association International has made Mark Ratchford its director of industry affairs. Ratchford previously held the position of technology contract analyst in the engineering department of Teligent Inc.
NextNet Wireless
Joseph Costello will ta
ke Ralph Muse’s place as chief executive officer of NextNet Wireless. Costello previously was chairman of the company.
Altawave Inc.
Kevin Thornton has been named president and chief executive officer of Altawave Inc. In his new role, Thornton will oversee the company’s global operations. In addition, he has assumed a position on Altawave’s board of directors. Thornton has nearly 20 years of high technology experience, which includes positions with RACOM Corp., Premenos, Sprint, PARS/Worldspan and Rockwell International. Most recently he was senior vice president and general manager of the myAladdin.com service division of NeoPoint Inc.
Allgon
Jeff Bork will take over as president and chief executive officer of Allgon AB. Before joining Allgon, Bork served as president of Dynal Biotech in Oslo. He also has gained experience in various leadership positions at Alfa-Laval, Pharmacia, Stralfors and Perstorp. He holds an MS from the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, as well as a Ph.D. and an MBA from IMD, Switzerland.
Pixo Inc.
Gavin Bourne has joined Pixo Inc. as vice president of sales and business development. In his new position, he will oversee Pixo’s worldwide sales and will play a role in formulating, executing and integrating business development strategies. Bourne’s career includes senior-level experience with high-tech companies like Palm Inc., Symbian and Motorola Inc. “His background coupled with his knowledge of operating systems applications and software solutions, will be invaluable in further positioning Pixo as a dominant player in the global wireless Internet market,” said Dave Rothschild, the company’s president and chief executive officer.
Verestar Inc.
Andrew Bast has been appointed chief operating officer of Verestar. According to the company, in this role, he will identify and leverage strengths and processes of Verestar to better serve its customers and work to improve profitability by focusing on the integration of Verestar subsidiaries and its satellite network access points. Prior to joining the company, Bast was senior vice president of operations at Road Runner L.L.C. He also gained executive experience as regional vice president of Primestar Inc. Of his new appointment Bast said, “This is a company that, through its peoples’ commitment and expertise, has established strong and mutually beneficial relationships with its customers. Our focus on operational excellence will ensure that these bonds continue to grow and strengthen.”
Zondigo Inc.
Zondigo Inc. has named Peter Sealey chairman of its board of directors. Sealey is an adjunct professor of marketing at the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley, and he co-directs the university’s Center for Marketing and Technology. He has acted as consultant for several companies, including Nokia, Visa U.S.A., Sony New Technologies Inc., Johnson &Johnson, and Eastman Kodak Co. Sealey spent most of his career at The Coca-Cola Company where he held several senior positions. Rafael Osso, formerly president and general manager of Comdisco, has been named Zondigo’s president. Osso’s more than 20 years of executive experience includes Comdisco, Unisys, ASP Desktop Online, Deutsche Bank and Merrill Lynch. Bill Young is Zondigo’s new chief marketing officer. He brings advertising executive experience from agencies including Grey Advertising, BBDO and D’Arcy Masius Benton & Bowles. Most recently, he has led marketing at Autobytel, Bamboo.com and Purpletie.com. In addition to these appointments, Zondigo has named former AT&T chief marketing officer Stephen Graham and Exodus’ executive vice president of international development Harry Barton to its advisory board.
United Telecom Council
The UTC has named Elizabeth Moore Griffiths its new director of research. At UTC, she will be responsible for expansion of the scope of UTC’s syndicated research projects and development of new research products that will benefit more segments of UTC membership. Griffiths was formerly the program manager for the Yankee Group’s energy communication research and consulting practice. Before joining the Yankee Group, she was a research analyst at Cambridge Strategic Management group.
Sprint PCS
Antonio (Tony) Castanon has joined Sprint PCS as senior vice president of customer management. In this position, Castanon will provide customer management leadership focused on an end-to-end customer lifecycle process to improve the quality of customer care. Before joining Sprint, Castanon was head of national customer operations for Aetna USHealthcare.
GSM Association
Jim Pratt, managing director responsible for Telstra Corp.’s international wireless operations, was elected deputy chair of the GSM Association during its 45th Plenary Meeting. Pratt will become deputy chairman to incoming GSM Association Chairman Scott Fox on May 1. The GSM Association also announced 57 new members to the association, including Hutchinson 3G UK Ltd., Intel Corp., Microsoft Corp., Psion, Rogers Wireless Inc. and Research in Motion.
MessageLink Inc.
Lynn Nowicki has been named president and chief operating officer of Pennsylvania-based wireless reseller and provider MessageLink Inc. Nowicki has experience as a senior executive with Asset Trade.com, Pepsi-Cola and General Mills Inc. “Lynn’s experience as a senior executive with major Fortune 500 companies will help us establish ourselves as a wireless industry leader,” said Jimmy Griffiths, the company’s chief executive officer. “She has managed a wide variety of operational areas, and her insightful, creative thinking will be a tremendous asset to our growing senior management team.” An active community leader, Nowicki is also a board member of several organizations including: the Boy Scouts of Southeastern Pennsylvania, The Academy of Natural Sciences, The Forum of Executive Women, Alternative Work Environment and Indrema Inc.
House Energy and Commerce Committee
Chairman Billy Tauzin recently made several new appointments to the House Energy and Commerce Committee. J. Keith Ausbrook will serve as counsel to Rep. James C. Greenwood (R-Pa.), chairman of the subcommitttee on oversight and investigations. Ausbrook is an attorney and has previous experience with the Office of the Independent Counsel, and the House Government Reform and Oversight Committee. Sean B. Cunningham was chosen as energy counsel to the committee. Cunningham was an associate in the law firm of Balch and Bingham and also has extensive Capitol Hill experience. Raymond V. Shepherd III will serve as oversight counsel to the committee. He has served as legislative director to former Rep. Fred Heinman and communications director to former Rep. Alex McMillan. He also has experience as an associate attorney Finally, Linda Lee Walker will be the committee’s administrative and human resources director. She has held similar positions with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
Verizon Wireless
Michael Boland has been named senior vice president for federal government relations for Verizon Wireless. In this position, Boland will be responsible for federal legislative matters for Verizon’s nationwide interests. Formerly chief executive officer of Boland & Madigan, a government relations firm in Washington, D.C., Boland also served as chief counsel and floor assistant to Rep. Trent Lott and as counsel to the committee on energy and commerce in the House. “It is a great challenge professionally and a great privilege,” Boland said of his new appointment.
NTCA
The National Telephone Cooperative Association hired Donna L. Taylor as public affairs manager. Taylor graduated in 1998 from James Madison University with a B.A. in English. Taylor previously served as a communications specialist at MAYA Advertising and Communications in Washington, D.C., and as production supervisor for Information Systems and Networks in Bethesda, Md.
Nokia Venture Partners
Nokia Venture Partners, a venture-capital firm focused on ear
ly stage mobile Internet investments, announced that John Zeisler has joined as general partner. Zeisler, 48, has more than 25 years of investment experience in consulting, management and operational roles at companies including Apple Computer, Claris Corp., InfoSeek, Netcom Online Communications, Pensoft, and Placeware. “John’s extensive network of contacts in the business, technical and venture-capital community are unmatched and we’re thrilled to have him on board to support entrepreneurs in building successful mobile companies, both on a local and global scale,” said John Malloy, another managing partner of Nokia Venture Partners. The company’s sixth partner, Zeisler will be based in Menlo Park, Calif.
Handspring Inc.
Handspring Inc. announced that former FCC Chairman William E. Kennard has joined its board of directors. Of his appointment Kennard said, “We are only beginning to witness a great fusion between handheld computing and wireless technology. I see Handspring as one of the clear innovators in defining and realizing this exciting future of what will be truly personal computing and communications. I look forward to making a contribution as this promising market evolves.” Kennard served as chairman of the FCC from November 1997 through January 2001. Since leaving, he has served as a senior fellow at the Aspen Institute in Washington, D.C., where he advises on telecommunication policy and program activities for the Institute’s Communications and Society Program. He will also chair the program’s new advisory board.
Hogan & Hartson
Hogan & Hartson, a Washington, D.C.-based international law firm, announced Ari Q. Fitzgerald has joined as partner in its Communications Group. Fitzgerald joins the firm from the Federal Communications Commission, where he served as legal adviser to the FCC’s former chairman and as deputy chief of its international bureau. Fitzgerald also previously was an attorney in the office of legal counsel of the U.S. Department of Justice and served as legal counsel to Senator Bill Bradley. According to Michele C. Farquhar, Hogan & Hartson’s Communications Practice Group’s co-director, “Ari’s high level experience, coupled with his intricate knowledge of FCC issues, will enable him to assist our clients on the myriad legal, regulatory, and business issues surrounding wireless and international communications, spectrum management, and new Internet technologies.”
Western Multiplex Corp.
Western Multiplex Corp. named Rita Khayat-Toubia chief information officer and vice president of information systems. Khayat-Toubia will be responsible for the company’s information technology, including project management, application development, infrastructure management, organizational development and process reengineering. Khayat-Toubia has more than 15 years of experience in information technology. Most recently she served as director of global information systems controlling for Hoechst Marion Roussel AG. She has also held senior-level positions at Roussel Uclaf Holdings Corp. and Roussel Uclaf. Western Multiplex also named Martin L. Christmas vice president of Asia-Pacific sales. Christmas is responsible for the management of the company’s Malaysia and China offices and for expanding wireless, service provider and enterprise opportunities for the Asia-Pacific market. Before joining the company, Christmas was regional sales director at Shasta IP-Nortel Networks. He has also held positions at Bay Networks, Network Solutions (Australia), Micom Borer (Saudi Arabia), and Hewlett Packard (U.K.). The company has also added Bernard Picot as vice president of sales for Latin America, Caribbean, and Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA). Picot brings extensive experience in international channel sales from Proxim Inc., Intermec Systems, CompuAdd Computer Corp. and General Automation France.
Center for Democracy and Technology
John Morris has joined the Center for Democracy and Technology (CDT) to lead a new project, “Internet Standards, Technology and Policy Project,” aimed at promoting better public interest participation in the technical development of the Internet. Morris is a partner in the Washington, D.C.-based Jenner & Block law firm, and he has litigated several cases in Internet and First Amendment law. Before becoming an attorney, Morris gained experience with both computers and politics working as a staff member on Capitol Hill, with Datatel Minicomputer Company and by co-founding Intelligent Solutions Inc.
Global Locate Inc.
Leo Hindery Jr. has joined Global Locate Inc.’s board of directors. Hindery most recently served as chairman and chief executive officer of GlobalCenter Inc., which recently merged into Exodus Communications. Until November 1999, he was president and chief executive officer of AT&T Broadband. Prior to that, he was president and chief executive officer of Tele-Communications Inc. until its merger with AT&T. Hindery is now chairman of HL Capital Inc., his family’s private investment and charitable organization.
Mirapoint Inc.
Mirapoint Inc. appointed Joe Hielscher vice president of worldwide marketing. In his new position, Hielscher is responsible for the development and execution of the company’s global marketing strategy and initiatives including product management, technical and product marketing and communications. Before joining Mirapoint, Hielscher was a director of marketing for Cisco Systems, where he worked for five years. He also has 15 years of experience with companies including Telebit corp., Wollongong Group, Ungermann-Bass, and Wang Laboratories.
Nextel Communications Inc.
Nextel Communications Inc. named Jim Mooney executive vice president and chief operating officer. In this position, Mooney will be responsible for Nextel’s daily operations and executing the company’s business plan. Before joining Nextel, Mooney spent more than 19 years with IBM, most recently as chief financial officer for the Americas. He also served as senior vice president and chief financial officer of BAAN Co. and as chief executive officer of Tradeout.
NTRU
William Whyte has joined NTRU as director of cryptographic research and development. He will be responsible for extending the company into new areas of secure, wireless communications. Prior to joining NTRU, Whyte served as chief cryptographer at Baltimore Technologies.
Intel Corp.
Intel Corp.’s co-founder Gordon Moore is retiring from the company’s board after 32 years. Moore, 72, has reached the mandatory retirement age for Intel directors. He will be succeeded by Reed Hundt, 53, who was chairman of the Federal Communication Commission from 1993 to 1997.
CTIA
Amy McKennis will join CTIA’s congressional affairs team as the senate director for government affairs. Most recently, McKennis served as legislative assistant to Senator Fred Thompson, working mainly on telecommunications, transportation and energy issues. She also previously worked as Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison’s legislative assistant on her commerce committee issues and served in the U.S. House of Representative and the Texas State Legislature for Congressman Kevin Brady. “Her legislative experience in telecommunications and across a broad range of other issues will make her a valuable resource within CTIA and on the Hill,” said Steve Berry, senior vice president for government affairs at CTIA.
Cell-Loc Inc.
Barbara A. Richardson has resigned from Cell-Loc Inc.’s board of directors, which she has been a member of since 1999. “We would like to thank Ms. Richardson for the valuable role she played in Cell-Loc’s development toward commercial viability,” said board’s director, Don Romaniuk. He added that her departure comes because of new responsibilities she has taken as a principal with a technology venture fund.
