Newsmakers/35/dp1st/mark2nd
Accounting
Steven Abraham will co-lead PriceWaterhouseCooper’s communications and entertainment/media consulting practice in the Americas region. He will be based in Century City and continue his role as managing partner of global entertainment and media consulting.
Jerry Brandt was appointed director of media and entertainment for KPMG LLP in Century City. He will head up the new media and related industries consulting practice, working with film, television, publishing and Internet-based commerce. Brandt was formerly executive publisher of Variety’s On Production Magazine.
Andrew Nelson has been named health care consulting division manager for Lucas, Horsfall, Murphy & Pindroh in Pasadena. He will assist medical groups, hospitals and health care systems. Also, Julie Kabler was named manager of marketing and public relations. She was previously marketing administration manager for VI Engineering in Michigan.
Advertising & Marketing
Polly Yeargan was named marketing analyst for new business development at Envision in Los Angeles. She will provide analysis for naming rights partners and the facilities the company represents. Yeargan most recently served as director of client services at Kauffman Sports Management Group.
Architecture
Michael Fejes has been named to the new post of regional director of Perkins & Will in Santa Monica and Pasadena. He will oversee strategic planning and development at both offices. Fejes was most recently senior vice president and director of the Los Angeles office of Hellmuth, Obata & Kassabaum. Also, Amy Yurko has been promoted to managing principal in the Pasadena office, where she will oversee ongoing projects.
Jim Scheidel has been named an owner and principal of Cuningham Group in Marina del Rey. He has been with the firm since 1984 and specializes in entertainment, hospitality, retail, restaurant and office projects.
Alexander Ward was appointed vice president and director of design for Leo A. Daly in Los Angeles. He will guide the overall design direction of the office and act as design leader for individual projects.
Paul Zajfen has joined Anshen+Allen Architects in Los Angeles as a principal. His practice has included institutional, government and corporate projects.
Banking & Finance
Richard McGinis has joined Fiducial Triple Check Financial Services in Montrose as operations manager. He will oversee staff interaction with financial representatives nationwide.
Susan Park has joined Investec Guinness Flight Global Asset Management in Pasadena as manager of marketing communications. She is responsible for advertising and customer service, among other things. Park previously managed marketing communications for SunAmerica.
Caroline Watteeuw has been named executive vice president and chief technical officer of Trading Edge Inc. in Santa Monica. She will manage technical operations, including development of online trading solutions for other market segments.
Education
Hyrum Hall has been appointed vice president for business and finance of Mount St. Mary’s College in Los Angeles. He was most recently deputy director to the associate provost for information technology at Vanderbilt University in Nashville.
Entertainment
Doug Sylvester was promoted to senior vice president of new business development for strategy and online operations at E! Entertainment Television in Los Angeles. He will run the network business operations and direct its expansion into new areas. Also, Laurel Wyner Dunlea has joined E! Online as vice president of marketing. She will oversee initiatives involving brand strategy, advertising, research, promotions, public relations and customer support. Wyner Dunlea was most recently vice president of marketing for Bizbuyer.com.
Government
Yifat Baron has been appointed the Israeli government consul for economic affairs for the southwestern region of the United States in Los Angeles. She will focus on increasing trade and investments between Israel and eight regions, including Southern California, Arizona, Colorado and Hawaii.
Health Care
Esther Emard was named chief operating officer of the National Committee for Quality Assurance in Los Angeles. She will help promote and expand accountability throughout the health care industry. Emard was formerly senior vice president for Harvard Pilgrim Health Care.
Insurance
Jeff Arnst has been promoted to controller at Brown & Riding in Los Angeles. He will oversee the administrative department, including accounting, benefits, facility management and claims. Arnst was previously an accounting supervisor.
Jim Otto has been named resident partner for Kroll, Rubin & Fiorella in Los Angeles. His work involves first- and third-party insurance coverage, bad-faith insurance litigation, professional liability and environmental law. Otto was formerly senior partner at Cummins & White.
Law
Viviana Amzel has joined Arter & Hadden in Los Angeles as partner. Her practice involves intellectual property issues, including technology and corporate development, and strategic planning for start-up companies.
New Media
Lauren de la Fuente has joined Intertainer Inc. in Culver City as senior vice president of marketing. She will oversee the marketing department and manage consumer and trade advertising programs, promotions, product launches and corporate communications. She was previously a vice president for USA Network and the SciFi Channel.
Daniela Drake was named health care business development director for Yipinet in Marina del Rey, which provides Internet learning and testing for professionals. Drake was previously a consultant for McKinsey, and a primary and emergency care physician. Jennifer DeVore was named director of marketing for the accounting unit and will manage partnerships between state CPA societies and national accounting associations. Tim Kidder was named financial services marketing director. He is responsible for developing courseware for corporate clients and managing Web site functions for corporate customers.
Public Relations
Kelly Reyna has joined StylePR in Los Angeles as publicist for the fashion entertainment division. She will work to place client products on television and in films. Reyna was most recently an associate in the studio services division of Saks Fifth Avenue in Beverly Hills.
Real Estate
David Coe has joined the South Bay office of Grubb & Ellis Co. as a vice president. He will focus on commercial and investment properties. Coe was most recently with the Seeley Co. Also, Brian Hennessey was named vice president in the office services group in North Hollywood.
Carmen Perri has joined Regent Properties in Beverly Hills as partner and development manager. He will oversee all phases of design and construction, including work on the Hollywood Marketplace project. Perri was previously with Caruso Affiliated Holdings, developing retail and commercial projects.
Richard Tamura has been appointed director of marketing at Playa Vista in Marina del Rey. He will be responsible for general administration of marketing efforts related to research, product development and coordination of communication programs.
