Fox Sports promotes Chris Hannan to executive vice president-communications and integration, new position … MPAA board member Rick Finkelstein, 64, Universal Studios, dies … ViaWest collocation services provider hires Todd Meester, ex-Level 3, as regional vice president and general manager-Minnesota region … Lightwave Logic names Siraj Nour El-Ahmadi, Menara Networks, a director, replacing Ross Fasick, retiring Nov. 1 and continuing as special adviser of the developer of applications for high-speed fiber-optic data communications and optical computing.

CBS promotes John Orlando to executive vice president-government affairs, following retirement (CD May 30 p19) of Marty Franks, whose responsibilities had included running the broadcaster’s Washington office … Charter Communications hires Alexander Hoehn-Saric, ex-aide to FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel, as senior vice president-government affairs … National Religious Broadcasters board hires Jerry Johnson, ex-Criswell College, as president and CEO, effective Nov. 1 … Western Telecommunications Alliance elects as new officers for coming two years: Mark Gailey, Totah Communications, president; Paul Kelly, Cordova Telephone Cooperative, vice president; and Brad Veis, 3 Rivers Communications, secretary-treasurer … California Broadcasters Association elects to board for 2014-15 term: Jaime Jimenez, Univision Radio, chairman; Marko Radlovic, Team Cumulus/LA, vice chairman; Miles Sexton, Point Broadcasting, secretary; Greg Ashlock, Clear Channel, treasurer; and Val Maki, Emmis, executive at-large … Gladys Brown sworn in as commissioner on Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission after state Senate voted unanimously to confirm her.

USTelecom promotes Anne Veigle, ex-Warren Communications News, to senior vice president-communications … Nielsen Vice Chairwoman Susan Whiting retiring at year’s end … Microsoft promotes Janet Kennedy to president, Microsoft Canada … Global Telecom & Technology hires Corey Eng, ex-Comcast Business Services, as chief marketing officer of Internet Protocol network company … Local TV promotes Jim Himes to president and general manager, WGHP High Point, N.C. … Entercom hires Phil Zachary, ex-Curtis Media Group, as vice president and market manager, Boston … Comcast promotes David Tashjian to vice president-sales and marketing, Mile High Region.

Verizon promotes Michael Maiorana to senior vice president-public sector markets, Verizon Enterprise Solutions, succeeding Susan Zeleniak, retired … DirecTV hires Adam Braff, ex-JPMorgan Chase, as senior vice president-business analytics … Radisys hires Steve Collins, ex-Sonus Networks, as vice president-global sales of wireless infrastructure company.

President Barack Obama names Renée James, Intel, to President’s National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee … Sheppard Mullin telecom practice hires for Business Trial practice group in Washington Susan Stith, ex-Texas Public Utility Commission, as special counsel, and Amanda Lanham, ex-Kaye Scholer, as associate … LIN Media Executive Vice President-Television Scott Blumenthal to retire Dec. 31, be succeeded by Vice President Jay Howell, who will have oversight of TV … WWE hires Laura Brevetti, ex-K&L Gates, as senior vice president-general counsel and secretary … Disney names Lisa Berger, ex-E Networks, as ABC executive vice president-alternative series, specials and late-night … Gannett hires Marc Kidd, ex-Outdoor Channel Holdings, as CEO of Captivate Network for digital ads, which is being spun off (see separate report in this issue), and Mark Shapiro, ex-Dick Clark Productions, as chairman … EdgeCast Networks hires John Powers, formerly of eHarmony.com, as chief financial officer; outgoing CFO Mike Kleiman named chief operating officer … Sinclair Broadcast Group director Basil Thomas, 98, died.

Alaska Communications hires Randy Ritter, ex-high-technology consultant, as senior vice president-managed services … Tribune Broadcasting’s Roger Bare named senior vice president/general manager, KDAF Dallas, succeeding Joe Young, retiring (CD Sept 25 p24); Bare remains general manager, KIAH Houston … Information Technology and Innovation Foundation elects ex-Rep. Phil English, R-Pa., co-chairman, replacing Nancy Johnson, stepping down from that position but remaining on the board … NPower names Mike Gregoire, CA Technologies, to board of nonprofit working on science, technology, engineering and math.

Hogan Lovells communications practice recently hired as associates Deborah Broderson, ex-FCC Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, Wesley Platt, ex-Wireline Bureau, and Carly Didden, ex-Patton Boggs … Wiltshire & Grannis hires Jennifer Bagg, ex-Communications Law Counsel, as partner on state and federal telecom regulation … Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission Commissioner Larry Landis to retire in January … President Barack Obama plans to nominate Catherine Ann Novelli, Apple, as State Department undersecretary for economic growth, energy and the environment … Information Technology Industry Council Vice President-External Affairs Tom Gavin hired by Salesforce.com, to work in its Washington office as senior director-industry branding, effective early next month.

Sandra “Dee” Lord, ex-Social Security Administration, hired by International Trade Commission as administrative law judge … Council for Research Excellence adds Artie Bulgrin, ESPN, and Susie Thomas, Palisades Media Group, as members … Cincinnati Bell promotes Leigh Fox to succeed Kurt Freyberger, resigning as chief financial officer, effective Oct. 1 … Tribune’s Joe Young retiring as general manager, KDAF Dallas, effective Oct. 11 … NTCA promotes Laura Withers to director-communications … Cable & Telecommunications Association for Marketing elects to board Jennifer Ball, Univision Communications, and Megan Rock, The Weather Co.

Gibson Dunn hires Helgi Walker, ex-Wiley Rein, as partner, with focus on appellate, regulatory and complex litigation issues … Undersecretary of Commerce for International Trade Francisco Sánchez will lead a delegation of 13 U.S. company representatives on a cybersecurity and critical infrastructure protection trade mission Sept. 29-Oct. 2 to Saudi Arabia and Kuwait … Allbritton Communications President and Politico CEO Fred Ryan to leave company later this year … NetNumber names Brad Boston to the board of the wireline and wireless signal routing and database service provider, as president and CEO … Dialogic network capacity firm hires Robert Dennerlein, ex-Raritan, as executive vice president-finance, and chief financial officer … Broadcast graphics automation system provider Bannister Lake Software hires Pete Challinger, ex-Pixel Power, as vice president-U.S. business development … Neohapsis mobile and cloud security service firm hires Patricia Wright, ex-Rapid7, as vice president-consulting services.

TechNet hires John Doherty, ex-UnitedHealth Group, as vice president-state policy & politics, and general counsel … Akin Gump hires Gregory Guice, ex-FCC Office of Legislative Affairs, as senior counsel-public law and policy practice … Sutherland Asbill hires, among others from Dow Lohnes, Bill Dudzinsky as partner to work on mergers and acquisitions and other technology, media and telecom transactions … Hearst Television’s Paul Fredericksen, president-general manager of KCCI Des Moines, Iowa, to retire later this year.