Aerospace
Michael W. Smyth has been named director of safety at Long Beach-based Polar Air Cargo Inc. Smyth will be responsible for directing corporate safety policies and procedures. He previously served as director of safety and standardization for a Marine Corps flying squadron in Yuma, Ariz.
Apparel
Eric Forman has been named director of marketing for national accounts at Santa Fe Springs-based Vans Inc. Forman will be responsible for coordinating and implementing all corporate marketing plans to the retail level for national accounts. He previously was regional director of marketing for Airwalk.
Banking/Finance
Kathryn Snyder has been promoted to executive vice president and director of bank operations and information systems at Glendale Federal Bank. Snyder will manage the bank’s retail banking back office, its mortgage and consumer loan servicing operation and its technology base and systems development process. She previously served as executive vice president and treasurer.
Engineering
David Peixotto has been named president of the Western group at Los Angeles-based Dean Ryan Consultants and Designers Inc. He previously served as deputy commander of the South Pacific division for the Army Corps of Engineers.
Health Care
Sharon R. Olson has been named president at Huntington Provider Services, a unit of Burbank-based UniMed Management Co. She previously was vice president and chief operating officer for Prudential Healthcare.
William C. Shepherd has been appointed vice president of organizational development training in human resources at Woodland Hills-based WellPoint Health Networks Inc. Shepherd will be responsible for implementing organizational goals and aligning them with the company’s operational strategy. He previously served as director of organizational development for Prudential Healthcare.
High Tech
Laurie Adami has been promoted to chief operating officer at Los Angeles-based Capital Management Services. Adami will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of CMS and managing the company’s BondEdge and BondVu products. She previously was executive vice president and managing director for the company.
Burbank-based Disney Interactive has named Anne Gates vice president of business planning and development. Gates will be responsible for overseeing strategy and business development initiatives. She previously was vice president of finance for Disney Consumer Products North America.
Jeff Lindauer has been named president at Los Angeles-based Smartalk. Lindauer will have input in all company operations, including marketing, sales, production and distribution. He previously was head of MCI’s prepaid phone card division.
James S. Kridel has been named to the newly created position of executive vice president of global marketing and sales for Los Angeles-based Glovia International. Kridel will be responsible for expanding the company’s international sales and synchronizing worldwide marketing and sales activities. He previously was corporate vice president and general manager at Fourth Shift Corp.
Human Resources
Carol Clement has been named vice president and regional manager of the Los Angeles region, metro markets division, at Kelly Services Inc. Clement is responsible for overall operations, sales, marketing and recruiting efforts for Kelly offices in Los Angeles. She previously was vice president and division manager of the Southwest region for Adecco.
Insurance
Nooruddin S. Veerjee has been named president of the insurance products division of Los Angeles-based Transamerica Life Companies. Veerjee will be responsible for all retail products. He formerly was president of Transamerica asset management, a Transamerica Life operation.
Martin D. Feinstein has been named chairman of Los Angeles-based Farmers Group Inc. He will continue to serve as president and chief executive officer for the insurance management and holding company.
Insurance Marketing & Management Services of Los Angeles has named David W. Conley vice president and chief operating officer. Conley will oversee all daily operations and financial management for the company. He previously was vice president and chief operating officer at Rough Notes Co.
Law
Shelly Rothschild has been named partner in the Los Angeles-based firm of Whitman Breed Abbott & Morgan LLP. Rothschild will serve in the bankruptcy department. She previously was a partner at Andrews & Kurth LLP.
The law firm of Jeffer, Mangels, Butler & Marmaro LLP has promoted three associates in its Los Angeles office to partners. R. Scott Brink advises company management in all aspects of labor relations and employment law. Brink previously was an associate in the labor and employment group. Alfred M. Garcia practices a broad range of international, federal, state and local tax issues. He previously was an associate in the tax department. Robert M. Steinberg focuses on corporate finance, securities and mergers and acquisitions. He previously was an associate in the corporate department.
The law firm of Sedgwick, Detert, Moran & Arnold has promoted two attorneys in its Los Angeles office to partners. Gary K. Kwasniewski practices in the areas of product liability and toxic tort litigation, and John M. Raders practices in insurance coverage and bad-faith litigation.
Real Estate
Takeshi “Ted” Higashio has been named senior vice president of the commercial group of Los Angeles-based Kennedy-Wilson International. Higashio will be responsible for developing business with the company’s Japanese clientele in the U.S. and acting as a liaison between the company’s American and Japanese divisions. He previously served as president of the California subsidiary of Haseko Inc.
Tourism
Bradley M. Burlingame has been appointed president of the West Hollywood Convention and Visitors Bureau. Burlingame will be responsible for creating a stronger identity for the city in the tourism arena. He previously was vice president of marketing for the Japanese Assistance Network.
