Accounting

Dave Charest has been named senior manager for Grant Thornton LLP’s management consulting practice. Charest will work out of the firm’s Los Angeles, Irvine and Woodland Hills offices and will work within the company’s Information Technology practice.

Advertising

Jill Baldauf has joined DDB Needham as management supervisor. Baldauf will oversee the Los Angeles Times account, and will assist with new business development. She previously was managing partner at the Griffin Bacal New York division of the agency. In addition, Ken Bracken has joined the company as creative director. Bracken will develop point-of-sale and cross promotional partnership opportunities for clients. He previously was a senior art director at Italia/Gal Advertising.

JoEllyn Savage has been appointed to lead Kaiser Permanente’s new national member and marketing communications department. Savage will oversee the company’s brand image and product advertising, media buying and Web site. Her department will also publish national health promotion and service publications. She previously was director of member and marketing communications for the company.

Banking & Finance

Ronald L. Olson has been named to the board of holding company Berkshire Hathaway Inc. In addition to his new responsibilities as a member of the board, Olson will continue his duties as senior partner at the Los Angeles-based law firm of Munger, Tolles & Olson.

SunAmerica Inc. has named Scott H. Richland senior vice president. Richland will be responsible for the annuity service operations, and will continue to act as head of the company’s human resources functions. He previously was vice president and treasurer in the investment department. In addition, three new vice presidents have been named to the Los Angeles office. Jeffrey C. Goodrich has joined the company to oversee marketing services, and will be responsible for managing marketing support activities. He previously was vice president and national marketing director for Transamerica Financial Resources. Nicholas Gumas has been hired to oversee product management, and will be responsible for managing all phases associated with the launch and implementation of products and services offered through SunAmerica Marketing. He previously was senior vice president at Oppenheimer & Co. Liz Altman-Harberger has joined the company to oversee product marketing, and will be responsible for managing sales and marketing literature, and client communication strategies. She previously served as vice president of investment services marketing at Sierra Capital Management.

Union Bank of California has named two new vice presidents at its Los Angeles office. Joanne M. Marshall has joined the company to oversee the business trust division. Marshall is a senior trust officer. She previously served as a trust officer for Wells Fargo Bank. Jeffrey Robinson has been promoted to credit examiner in the credit examination division. He previously was assistant vice president at the company.

Brougham J. Morris has been named senior vice president/senior loan and credit officer of Imperial Bank’s Los Angeles Airport Regional Office. Morris will work on loan operations in commercial lending. He joins the company from Comerica Bank, where he served as first vice president/group manager.

James L. Lin has been promoted to vice president of research at Wedbush Morgan Securities in Los Angeles. Lin will oversee accounts with wireless communications equipment and interactive entertainment software companies. He previously was a research analyst at the firm. In addition, Roxanne Cheng has joined the firm as first vice president and research analyst. Cheng will oversee health care services. She previously was vice president at Kredietbank N.V. in Los Angeles.

Gordon V. Smith has been named chairman of Bank Plus. He will maintain his responsibilities as director, a position he has held since May 1996. In addition, James E. Stutz has been named chief operating officer of the bank. He will be responsible for day-to-day executive decisions in addition to his duties as president of Fidelity Federal Bank, which is owned by Bank Plus.

Entertainment

Gary G. Goldberger has been promoted to executive vice president at Hamdon Entertainment in Studio City. Goldberger will be based in Studio City, where he will be responsible for Hamdon’s overall global operations, as well as for new product acquisitions. He previously was senior vice president of acquisitions and business affairs at the company.

Christopher D’Angelo has been named vice president of production and programming at Universal Studios Online, a division of Universal Studios New Media Group. D’Angelo will be responsible for managing producers, programmers and artists. He will be based in Universal City. He previously served as director of production at Universal Studios New Media Group.

Saban Entertainment has promoted George Leon to vice president of promotions. Leon will oversee the development of all aspects of consumer-targeted promotional opportunities for the company’s Saban and Fox Kids properties. He previously served as director of promotions at the company. In addition, Bruce Bridges has been promoted to director of marketing, production and special events. Bridges will oversee development of live attractions related to Saban properties. He previously was manager of marketing, production and special events at the company. Also, Rosslyn Forrester has been promoted to director of domestic marketing. Forrester will oversee the company’s marketing efforts for all Saban properties in national syndication. She previously was manager of television marketing and promotions at the company.

Delia Johnson has been promoted to vice president of administration at BRC Imagination Arts, which designs and produces themed attractions. Johnson has also been named a member of the company’s executive board. She will be based in Burbank, where she will oversee all administrative functions. She previously was the company’s controller and personnel manager.

Health Care

Woodland Hills-based WellPoint Health Networks Inc. has named Sally Sharma vice president, office of the chairman. Sharma will assist the chariman and CEO with corporate planning and management development. She previously was senior vice president of corporate planning at California Federal Bank of Los Angeles. Also, Andy Morrison has been promoted to vice president of federal and intergovernmental affairs. Morrison will be responsible for federal government relations activities, and will be the principal liaison with national trade organizations. Morrison previously was director of regulatory action at the company.

High Tech

John Strosahl has been promoted to vice president of the international operations of Quarterdeck Corp. in Marina del Rey. Strosahl will be responsible for the growth and development of the company’s international revenue and general international business functions. He previously served as interim vice president of worldwide sales. Also, Marc Epstein has been named chief technology officer and senior vice president of technology and business development. Epstein will be responsible for leading the technology direction and managing the business development for products, as well as maintaining strategic relationships with industry partners.

Legal

Derrick K. Takeuchi has been named local managing partner and will head the Los Angeles and Orange county offices of Graham & James LLP. He will be based in the Los Angeles office. Takeuchi will focus on strengthening the firm’s existing legal practice areas, some of which include financial services, litigation and intellectual property. He previously served as partner at the firm.

Real Estate

Michael N. Becket has joined Equity Office as general manager of Two California Plaza, a 52-story office tower in downtown Los Angeles. He will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the building. Prior to joining the company, he was a portfolio manager at Insignia Commercial Group Inc.