LA Newsmakers

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Accounting

Kenneth M. Rem has been appointed managing partner of PricewaterhouseCoopers’ entertainment and media practice. Most recently, Rem was the leader of PricewaterhouseCoopers’ Southern California tax practice.

Banking & Finance

Mark K. Mason has been named chief executive of Bank Plus Corp. and Fidelity Federal Bank, and was named chairman of Fidelity Federal. Mason has been serving as CEO on an interim basis since September 1998.

Entertainment

Eric Bonniot has joined 525 Studios as president and chief executive. He will be responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations, along with O.D. Welch III, newly appointed chief operating officer.

Lawrence Kieves has been appointed president of K-Tel International Inc. Kieves has held positions as CEO and COO with several public companies in the entertainment industry.

Lanny Raimondo has been appointed divisional director of the Technicolor group of companies. He will head all of Technicolor’s businesses, including videocassette and optical disc manufacturing, theatrical film production and distribution. Raimondo joined the company in 1994 as president of the video services division.

Betsy Rott has been promoted to vice president of programming and development of E! Entertainment Television. She will be responsible for overseeing the development and production of many of the network’s original series and specials. Prior to joining, Rott was a news producer with KATU-TV in Portland.

Health Care

Ivan Jeffrey Kamil has been promoted to vice president of quality management at the Woodland Hills office of Blue Cross of California. Prior to joining, Kamil held various positions with Prudential HealthCare and Maxicare Health Plan. Also, Brian Sassi has been named general manager for the large-group key accounts. His primary responsibility will be for all California employers with 51 to 250 employees. Previously, Sassi has held management positions with Provident Life Insurance Co.

Deborah Stokes has been named vice president of financial planning and analysis for Kaiser Permanente California. She will be responsible for financial analysis and planning, operating forecasts and business strategies. Previously, Stokes was vice president of finance for Kaiser Permanente’s Southwest division.

High Tech

Rob Woo has been named vice president of technical operations and customer satisfaction at Santa Monica-based MineShare Inc. He will be responsible for worldwide operations and all aspects of the product that relate to customer service. Previously, Woo was senior manager responsible for business development at Andersen Consulting.

Hospitality

Juliet Muir has been appointed director of sales and marketing for the Sofitel Los Angeles. Previously, Muir was director of sales and marketing at the Radisson Wilshire Plaza Hotel.

Law

Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP has added new partners to its Los Angeles office. Robert Layton will focus on health care law, regulation and litigation. Previously, Layton headed the health care practice at McKenna & Cuneo. Peter M. Menard’s areas of expertise include corporate finance, venture capital financing and technology transfer transactions. Previously, Menard was a corporate securities lawyer at Manatt, Phelps & Phillips. Suzanne J. Heeg will specialize in patent, copyright, trademark, trade dress and unfair competition litigation, licensing and counseling. Prior to joining, Heeg was an attorney with Pretty, Schroeder & Poplawski.

Elizabeth M. King has joined the Los Angeles office of Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy as manger of recruiting and marketing. She will be responsible for all recruiting and retention, and will oversee the office’s marketing initiatives. Previously, King was recruiting coordinator with Baker & Hostetler LLP.

Manufacturing

Louis Mancini has joined Irwin Naturals/4Health, Inc. as president and chief operating officer. He will be responsible for the day-to-day operation of the company. Most recently, Mancini was president of GNC.

New Media

Michael Ihde has been promoted to vice president of human resources with EarthLink Network Inc. He will oversee the development and maintenance of the company’s employee benefits program and will manage a variety of corporate programs and initiatives. Prior to joining, Ihde was a senior technical recruiter at Cornell, Bokelmann & Associates.

Non-Profit

Ritchie Geisel has been appointed president of the Crippled Children’s Society of Southern California. He will be responsible for overseeing all administrative and operational aspects of the organization. Most recently, Geisel served as president and CEO for Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic.

Public Relations

Sandra Sims has joined Los Angeles-based Lagrant Communications as account manager. She will be primarily responsible for handling community and outreach programs. Previously, Sims was an account executive for Great Western Bank. Also, Adrena Ifill has joined the firm as account manager. She will be responsible for the day-to-day activities for the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services tobacco control services account. Most recently, Ifill was brand marketing manager for a consumer products company.

Real Estate

Bill M. Emhoff has been promoted to senior vice president of the Santa Monica office of Pinnacle Realty Management Co. He will be responsible for the company’s management, leasing and investment brokerage divisions throughout Los Angeles. Previously, Emhoff was vice president of Pinnacle’s investment sales and leasing division.

Christopher E. Maling has been named senior investment associate at Marcus & Millichap Real Estate Investment Brokerage Co. He will specialize in retail shopping centers. Maling has been with the company since 1989.

Kristin Olson has been named an associate at Tishman Speyer Properties’ Los Angeles office. She will be assisting with the firm’s acquisition efforts. Previously, Olson was portfolio manager at Cathartes Investments.

Robin Platt has been promoted to regional operations manager for Los Angeles at Voit Management Co. She will oversee operations for more than 3 million square feet in the Los Angeles area.

Recreation

Kathy Wadham has been named exhibits manager at Fairplex in Pomona. She will be responsible for all of the Los Angeles County Fair’s competitive and non-commercial exhibits departments. Previously, Wadham was special events coordinator of Mrs. Nelson’s Toy and Bookshop.

Restaurants

Marc Carter has been named controller of Dick Clark Restaurants Inc. His responsibilities will include overseeing all aspects of the financial operations and reporting of the restaurant division. Most recently, Carter was controller/director of strategic planning at California Pizza Kitchen Inc.

Tom Lazaroff has been appointed director of marketing for Hard Rock Caf & #233; International Inc. He will be based in Los Angeles and will design strategic marketing programs in support of Hard Rock restaurants in North America. Previously, Lazaroff was a marketing manager for the licensing division at the Walt Disney Co.

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