LA Newsmakers/dt1st/mark2nd
Accounting
Natalie LaBran has joined Ozur Andersen & Radder in Beverly Hills as manager of the non-profit department. She will focus on audits and consulting services. LaBran was previously with PriceWaterhouse Coopers.
Automotive
Joanne Van Emburh has been promoted to assistant general counsel in the corporate legal department of Toyota Motor Sales in Torrance. She will focus on securities matters, including debt and asset-based financing. Van Emburgh was previously a partner at the law firm of Heller, Ehrman, White & McAuliffe.
Banking & Finance
Kwok-Yin Cheng has been appointed senior vice president of international banking for East West Bank in San Marino. He will be responsible for trade services, operations, correspondent banking and other international banking activities. Cheng most recently served as general manager of the Pacific Rim business department of Union Bank of California.
Jonathan Howe and Noel Ryan have been appointed senior vice presidents in Houlihan Lokey Howard & Zukin’s Los Angeles office. Howe was most recently senior vice president of Fortune Financial. Ryan was senior vice president for Sumitomo Bank of California, responsible for the Los Angeles corporate banking group.
Entertainment
Kevan Boner has been promoted to vice president of corporate planning for Universal Studios in Universal City. He is involved in all aspects of business and financial planning across all divisions.
Charles Meister was appointed to the new post of chief executive of SoundStorm in Burbank. He will manage and oversee business and legal affairs and will be responsible for all new business development. Meister was previously president of Soundelux in Hollywood.
Ron Pomerantz was named vice president and creative director of TV Guide Sneak Preview in Los Angeles. He will oversee creation of the channel’s new on-air look and brand identity. Pomerantz was most recently director of Fox Broadcasting Corp’s in-house branding department.
Health Care
Mark Citron has been named president of information systems for IPC The Hospitalist Co. in North Hollywood. He will be responsible for the management and architecture of leading-edge information systems. Citron was most recently manager of network technology for Children’s Hospital in Los Angeles.
Sherin Devaskar has been named chief of neonatology at Mattel Children’s Hospital at UCLA, and vice chair of pediatric research for UCLA’s School of Medicine in Westwood. She was previously chief of neonatology and a pediatrics professor at the University of Pittsburgh.
Lawrence Dorr joined Good Samaritan Hospital in Los Angeles as director of the Bone & Joint Institute. He will specialize in total joint replacement and educational programs to promote public awareness of musculoskeletal diseases. Dorr most recently founded the Center for Arthritis and Joint Replacement Surgery at USC University Hospital.
High Tech
Kirk Arnold has been promoted to president of Computer Sciences Corp. in El Segundo. She will be responsible for commercial systems integration and management consulting services in North America. Arnold was previously vice president of strategic services.
Larry Brady will join Unova Inc. in Woodland Hills as president and chief operating officer. He will be responsible for the Industrial Automation Systems and Automated Data Systems segments. Brady was most recently president of FMC Corp. in Chicago.
Philippe Tartavull has been named president and chief executive of Oberthur Smart Cards USA in Los Angeles. He will maintain the company’s magstripe-based business and create new business opportunities. Tartavull was previously president and chief executive of Syseca.
Hospitality
Dana Bain was appointed marketing projects manager of the Santa Monica Convention & Visitors Bureau. She will be responsible for the development of collateral materials and publications, special marketing promotions and special event programming. Bain was previously promotions manager for the Los Angeles Opera.
Richard Gaines has been named national corporate sales manager for the Westin Bonaventure Hotel and Suites. He is responsible for developing corporate group business in the Western and Midwestern regions. Gaines was most recently senior account executive for Marriott National Accounts in Los Angeles.
Seth Horowitz was named general manager and Kevin Blackbeard was named director of sales at Hotel Oceana in Santa Monica. Both were previously with Shutters on the Beach Hotel.
New Media
Susan Brazer was appointed chief executive of Global Music One in Los Angeles. She will oversee the company’s delivery and marketing of music via broadband and Internet. Brazer was previously senior vice president of marketing and network development for Showtime.
Real Estate
Brian Campell has been named senior associate and manager of Beitler Commercial Realty Services’ Valley apartment division in Sherman Oaks. He specializes in Valley apartment buildings and provides brokerage services to buyers and sellers.
Holli Leon was appointed vice president of loan production administration for ARCS Commercial Mortgage in Calabasas. She was previously with Fannie Mae’s Southwest Regional office.
Henry Lichtman was named vice president of management for Southern California at Macerich Co. in Santa Monica. He will oversee operations of nine properties in Los Angeles and Orange counties. Lichtman was most recently vice president and general manager of Fashion Island in Newport Beach.
Lawson Martin has been promoted to executive vice president and chief operating officer of Travers Realty Corp. in Los Angeles. His clients include Artisan Entertainment, Kaufman and Broad, SunAmerica and Warner Bros. Martin has been with the company for 15 years.
Don Miller has joined propertyfirst.com in Alhambra as executive vice president and chief operating officer. He will focus on expanding the company’s online commercial listing service. Miller was previously president of Experian Real Estate Solutions.
Ryer Pickren has been named to the new post of executive vice president of brokerage services for Charles Dunn Co. in Los Angeles. He will focus on integrating brokerage activities between the company’s brokerage offices. Pickren was regional manager for Daum Commercial Real Estate Services.
Steven Zimmer was appointed vice president of Newhall Land and Farming Co.’s Newhall Ranch division in Valencia. His practice is in real estate development, including governmental and environmental processing. Zimmer was a co-founder of Rupp, Holmberg & Zimmer in Oxnard.
Retail
Jason Fiber has been appointed vice president of Internet operations for Wherehouse Music in Torrance. He is responsible for the development and operations of Wherehouse Music’s Web site. Fiber was head of the interactive music group at iXL.
Security
Len Ford has been promoted to vice president of sales and marketing for Pinkerton’s U.S. security division in Westlake Village. He is responsible for developing objectives, policies and programs for sales and marketing activities. He was previously vice president of Western sales operations. Also, Fred Krift was promoted to vice president of Pinkerton’s total quality management program. He will oversee quality management initiatives.
Services
Matthew McConaughy was appointed vice president of sales and marketing for Web Service Co. in Redondo Beach. He will oversee all sales and marketing activities for the laundry service provider. McConaughy was most recently director of marketing at Aramark.
Travel
Tim Irwin was promoted to managing director for travel-related products, services and travel agency support functions for the Automobile Club of Southern California in Los Angeles. He will be responsible for expanding and integrating travel services for the Auto Club. Irwin was previously group manager for travel product management.
