VLSI
VLSI Technology Inc. said its president and chief operating officer, Richard M. Beyer, left the company for personal reasons. “We have a very solid team that can weather the current semiconductor industry downturn while we continue to invest in the strategic technologies that position us well for the future,” said Alfred J. Stein, VLSI chairman and chief executive officer. Stein has assumed Beyer’s responsibilities.
J.D. POWER
J.D. Power and Associates appointed Zaiba Nanji as a partner responsible for the Telecommunications Services Group. Nanji manages syndicated and proprietary research studies of customers in several industries, including wireless, in the United States, United Kingdom and Canada. Prior to joining J.D. Power, Nanji was assistant vice president for BAI, a marketing research and consulting firm. She also has worked for Dun & Bradsteet Inc. and Pitney Bowes.
WIRELESS INC.
Wireless Inc. announced two new vice presidents. William E. Kunz was promoted to vice president and general manager of the Wireless and RAN Business Unit of Wireless. Kunz joined Wireless in April as the vice president of engineering and chief engineer. Before that, Kunz worked for Hewlett-Packard Co., where he held technical and research management positions and worked within the Multipoint Distribution System group. Kunz invented several patents held by HP in microwave and millimeterwave technology.
Donald H. MacLeod was promoted to vice president of sales and marketing. MacLeod joined the company last August as the sector vice president of Asia Pacific, establishing the company’s presence in the region with an office in Singapore. The office was moved to Hong Kong after Wireless merged with Multipoint Networks in June. MacLeod has 20 years of experience in sales and marketing of microwave radio products to the telecom industry. He joined Wireless from MAS Technology Inc., where he was the general manager of Asian operations. He also has held senior-level positions with Digital Microwave Inc., and Harris-Farinon Corp.
METAPATH
Metapath Software Corp. appointed Larry Culver chief financial officer and senior vice president of finance and operations, responsible for managing corporate finances and daily operations. Culver spent the last seven years at CellPro, serving as executive vice president, chief operating officer and chief financial officer of the biotech company. Culver provided guidance in taking the company public and raising more than $170 million in financing. Before CellPro, Culver spent six years as vice president of finance and administration and chief financial officer for Summation Inc., a company that makes automated hardware and software test tools. He raised and managed venture capital funds, created acquisition plans and oversaw all financial and investment-related aspects of the company.
U S WEST
John Gonner, vice president of operations and engineering for U S West Inc.’s Wireless Division, was selected by U S West President and Chief Executive Officer Sol Trujillo to serve as an officer of the company. In this capacity, Gonner will have increased responsibility for developing and implementing strategies that fulfill U S West’s vision of product integration. Most recently, Gonner lead the design and construction of the company’s personal communications services network, marketed under the Advanced PCS brand name. Gonner, who has been with U S West 34 years, joined the Wireless Division in 1995. Before that, he served as the executive director of marketing and technical services for U S West International.
CDG
The CDMA Development Group appointed Dawn M. Brodman marketing director, responsible for all aspects of CDG’s marketing efforts, including global conference coordination, public relations and promotion. Brodman joined CDG from London-based Cibernet plc, where she identified new market opportunities and potential business partners, developed business plans for new products and deployed market strategies for existing products. Brodman, who began her career with Andersen Consulting, also has held management positions with Cibernet Corp., American Mobile Satellite Corp. and SNET Cellular Inc.
K&L MICROWAVE
Several new employees were hired or promoted at K&L Microwave Inc., a Dover Technologies company. Al Knezevich was appointed subsystems and tunable filters business unit manager. Knezevich previously held various positions at a subsidiary of Philips Electronics NV. His experience includes management, marketing, operations, sales and strategic planning. Before Philips, Knezevich held sales and marketing management positions at Texas Instruments. Paul Leo, a 13-year K&L veteran, was named director of international business development. Leo was most recently the international sales manager. In his new position, he will work on strategic initiatives to strengthen K&L’s international markets. Mike Giarratano is the new director of sales in K&L’s Pacific Rim region. Giarratano has nine years of experience with the company in a sales management position. Jeff Burkett was promoted to director of sales for the company’s European region, which also includes Israel, Africa and South America. Burkett previously was K&L’s international product specialist responsible for high-volume cavity and ceramic products. Craig Larson, who has worked for K&L 4 years, is the new regional sales manager in the Mid-Atlantic, New York, Ohio and Indiana areas. He previously held a position with International Sales responsibility.
MOBILEMEDIA
MobileMedia Communications Inc. announced it appointed Steven Gross executive vice president of sales and marketing. The company also said Kirk Hughes was named vice president of management information systems, Tracey Zimmerman vice president human resources and Patricia Gray vice president and general counsel.