NEW YORK, March 1 (Reuters) - Sunstone Hotel Investors Inc (SHO.N) has promoted its head of asset management to chief operating officer, a move that comes as the company gears up to buy more hotels.

Marc Hoffman, who joined the company in 2006 as senior vice president of asset management, will now take on the title of COO, a new position for Sunstone. Sunstone is a real estate investment trust that owns 38 hotels.

Hoffman is one of seven employees promoted at Sunstone, based in San Clemente, California, including Chief Financial Officer Ken Cruse, who was promoted to executive vice president from senior vice president.

"While the increased responsibilities came from a corporate reorganization from last May, the promotions reflect enhanced responsibilities and increased performance from these individuals," Chief Executive Arthur Buser said.

The decision to promote the executives comes shortly after Buser and Executive Chairman Robert Alter said they would forgo part of their pay for 2009 and 2010.

The pay cuts were made so "they could fund additional compensation to additional members of the team," Cruse said in an interview.

Buser said through a spokeswoman that details about pay increases for the executives would be detailed in a forthcoming securities filing.

Like many hotel owners, Sunstone was hit hard last year as companies cut back on travel spending. Sunstone cut 40 percent of its workforce last May and shortly after said it would forfeit its luxury W San Diego hotel, a property that was worth just half the value of the loan at the time.

This year, the hotel owner handed back keys on 11 other hotel after it failed to come to a compromise with its lender Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Co. The company is now looking to unload three other hotels from the MassMutual portfolio.

At the same time, Sunstone is also aiming to buy more hotels and hopes to take advantage of any firesales as some owners struggle with their debt payments. The company is looking to buy hotels ranging from luxury and select-service properties, a departure from Sunstone's focus on upscale hotels.

"We're not ruling out anything that has potential to being complementary to our business plans," Cruse said.

Solomon Gold PLC (AIM: SOLG) said it has appointed Alex Thin as chief operating officer, with operational responsibility over the company's projects in the Solomon Islands and Queensland, Australia.

This newly created position has become necessary due to the Solomon's expanding exploration and project development activities, together with the opportunity for the rapid definition of gold resources across its projects.

Thin holds a Bachelors Degree in Engineering from the Camborne School of Mines in the UK, together with Mine Manager's and Mine Overseer's Certificates of Competency gained from work experience in South Africa.  His previous experience encompasses roles in Australia and South Africa for Southern Uranium Ltd, Emperor Mines Ltd, DRD Australia Ltd, Durban Roodepoort Deep Ltd and SRK Consulting, including roles as a senior mining engineer, business development manager, manager of growth projects, and long-term planning engineer.

To date, Solomon Gold and its subsidiary Australian Resource Management (ARM) Pty Ltd have expended approximately A$20 millio on the search for a giant gold copper porphyry system on the island of Guadalcanal in Solomon Islands. 

The company currently holds tenement interests over 612 square kilometres covering highly prospective terrain on the southwest Pacific rim of fire, a region known for very large copper gold porphyry and epithermal gold deposits, such as Lihir, Bougainville and Ok Tedi in Papua New Guinea and Batu Hijau and Grasberg in Indonesia. 

Only last week, Solomon announced it received high-grade samples of  up to 169 grams per tonne (gpt) of gold  from reconnaissance work and systematic stream sampling at the wholly-owned Fauro Island project in Papua New Guinea.

IP-based networking solutions provider UTStarcom Inc (Nasdaq:  UTSI | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating) announced on Monday the appointment of Jack Lu to chief operating officer effective immediately.

According to the company, Lu will oversee the broadband business unit, multimedia communication business unit, global supply chain and China sales and marketing functions. He will report to Peter Blackmore, the company's CEO and president.

Lu recently served as co-chief operating officer and general manager, China at Source Photonics, an opto-electronic component company. Before that, he held numerous positions at Fiberxon, which was sold to MRV Communications Inc in July 2007, including CEO, COO and vice president of marketing and sales.

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C., March 1 /PRNewswire/ -- US Logistics, a wholly owned subsidiary of private equity consolidator Ranger International Services Group, announces the appointment of Major General (US Army, retired) Chuck Swannack as its Chief Operating Officer. US Logistics is a government outsourcing contractor specialized in tactical vehicle overhauls and repairs, technical staffing, base logistics, and aircraft technical services. General Swannack retired from the US Army in 2005 after 33 years of service, culminating as the Commander of the fabled 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. As the new Chief Operating Officer of US Logistics, Swannack will help guide the continuing aggressive growth of that award winning company, with constant vigilance on quality, safety, and F.A.R. compliance. US Logistics has strong backing from large institutional shareholders, and a deeply experienced management team at multiple levels which Swannack now joins in the COO role.

MG Swannack served in Operation Iraqi Freedom and led elements of the division in the advance to Baghdad and in the succeeding year in western Iraq. MG Swannack is a 1971 graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point and served in progressive leadership and staff positions throughout his distinguished career. Since leaving active duty, MG Swannack has mentored US Army Reserve and Army National Guard senior military leaders in soon to be deployed units to help prepare them for the rigors of combat in both Iraq and Afghanistan.

Chuck Swannack said: "I am proud and enthused to join this fine organization. Our commitment to our customers and to our own people is simple, to be the best we can be every day. We're on the move, we're growing steadily, and US Logistics is very good at its job. I met most of our major customers just last week at an AUSA gathering, and they all know how committed we are to serving their technical services needs with high quality and cost-effective pricing."

The founder and CEO of US Logistics, Mike Boyce, said to all of his employees: "We are fortunate to have a leader of Chuck's caliber and experience come aboard with us. Our customers know him and respect him. He knows every aspect of the heavy equipment on which we perform technical services, and every nuance of serving the warfighter."

US Logistics provides technical and labor services in support of US Department of Defense contracts worldwide, with hundreds of its personnel deployed overseas. In addition to tactical wheeled and tracked vehicle MRO services, US Logistics also services aircraft programs. USL's aircraft programs include corrosion control, wash services, transient alert, maintenance and operations support, technical labor services, and contract field teams.

US Logistics operates in the growing military outsourcing arena. The US Government is pursuing competitive sourcing and privatization to free up dollars for its highest priorities, especially modernization. It is within this arena that US Logistics has established its strong reputation for quality, reliability, and cost-effectiveness. The company provides expertise in program and project management, with diverse capabilities which allow it to quickly and proficiently respond to contract requirements and missions. In an array of challenging contracts over its history, US Logistics has completed projects in eight countries and 38 states. The company maintains a lean cost model, and is able to offer its Government or Prime Contractor customers an absolute cost advantage combined with measurably superior quality metrics on a consistent and reliable basis.

Chuck Swannack can be reached directly at: Office 910-223-1208, Cellular 910-322-4498, Email chuckswannack@us-L.com.

Companies

Suffolk Construction of Falls Church named Glenn Little vice president for health care and institutional projects in the Mid-Atlantic region.

A.T. Kearney of the District named Erik Peterson, former senior vice president at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, director of the global business policy council.

Leo A Daly of the District named Mitchell Alguadich, former principal and company officer for Cannon Design, director of health care.

Crystal Gateway Marriott of Arlington named Sharon Lockwood general manager.

Powertek of Rockville named Dan Mintz, former chief information officer with the U.S. Department of Transportation, chief operating officer.

Bourntec Solutions of Reston named Victor Ciardello executive vice president and director of the region.

Attain of Vienna named Michael Fox, formerly with SRA International, corporate business development and chief strategy officer; Timothy Hays, former federal director of the research, condition and disease categorization project at the division of program coordination, planning and strategic initiatives within the National Institutes of Health, partner in research and health-care solutions; Richard Roberts, former chairman and executive vice president of global public services and chief operating officer at BearingPoint, president of federal services.

Condominium Services of Alexandria named Joe Riviere president and chief operating officer.

L-3 Communications of the District named retired U.S. Army Lt. Gen. James Lovelace corporate vice president of international programs.

Associations/Nonprofits

Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing named Linda Kelleher director of community and resident relations, and Kerry Lutz resident services coordinator for Columbia Grove Apartments.

NatureServe of Arlington named Thomas Brooks, former vice president of conservation priorities and responses at Conservation International, vice president for science and chief scientist; Kyle Copas, former director of online strategy, acting director of marketing and communications.

The Consumer Bankers Association of Arlington named David Pommerehn counsel in legislative and regulatory affairs, Marybeth Leongini vice president of marketing and communications and Rebecca Shaw special assistant and PAC administrator.

Real Estate

West, Lane & Schlager of the District named Mindy Saffer principal.

Health Care

GetWellNetwork of Bethesda named Tony Cook, former vice president of Americas marketing at Tandberg, vice president of marketing; Michele Perry, former chief marketing officer at Sourcefire, chief operating officer.

Financial

Ames & Gough of the District named Tom Marchetti, formerly with United Insurance Consultants, client executive.

Legal

Latham & Watkins of the District named Matthew Moore, formerly with Howrey , partner in the litigation department.

Arnold & Porter of the District named Marc Daniel counsel.

Blank Rome of the District named Andrew M. Miller, former associate at Wiley Rein , associate in the commercial litigation group.

Kilpatrick Stockton of the District named Paul S. Pilecki and Michael Mancusi, formerly of Winston & Strawn, partners, joining its financial institutions team; Eric Gold, associate focusing on complex business litigation and insurance coverage; Lindsay Kaplan, associate focusing on trademark and copyright law; and Lindsay Tingley, associate focusing on corporate, securities and regulatory matters.

Alston & Bird of the District named Christina LaVera counsel in its financial services and products group.

AAP

Bank of Queensland Ltd (BOQ) has appointed chief financial officer (CFO) Ram Kangatharan as its chief operating officer (COO) to oversee the daily operations of the bank.

Mr Kangatharan stepped into the newly-created role on Monday and will manage the consolidation of BOQ's non-regulatory and legal operating units.

This includes responsibility for marketing, distribution, IT and direct banking, BOQ said in a statement on Tuesday.

Managing director David Liddy said Mr Kangatharan would have responsibility for driving BOQ's daily operations so that the bank achieved a cost to income ratio of 45 per cent by 2010/11 and return on equity of 15 per cent by 2011/12.

"The group executives responsible for these areas will report directly to the COO, however will retain their role as a member of my core advisory group," Mr Liddy said.

BOQ is now searching for a new CFO.

VINELAND, N.J., March 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Sun Bancorp, Inc. (Nasdaq: SNBC) and its wholly-owned banking subsidiary, Sun National Bank, today announced that Robert B. Crowl was appointed executive vice president and chief financial officer (CFO) of the Company and the Bank.

Previously, Crowl, 46, was executive vice president and chief operating officer of the $150 billion in assets Cleveland-based National City Corporation, which was acquired in December 2008 by PNC Financial Services Group, Inc.

"We are pleased to have Rob, a seasoned, strategic financial executive, join the Sun Bancorp organization," said Thomas X. Geisel, president and chief executive officer.  "Rob's diverse financial background and skill set will complement our management strategy and strengthen our efforts to grow our franchise in our core New Jersey markets.  Despite the current economic environment, there are many opportunities for a strong, long-term leader such as Sun Bancorp in the financial services industry."

From 2007 until 2009, Crowl served as executive vice president and chief operating officer of National City Mortgage, a national retail mortgage lender with annual production of approximately $20 billion, where he was primarily focused on reengineering the mortgage business and loan origination process to improve the customer experience, loan quality and profitability.  His responsibilities included production operations, quality control, compliance, secondary markets and strategic initiatives.

Crowl also previously served as senior vice president and comptroller of National City Corporation from 2004 through 2007.  In this capacity, he was in charge of the business line CFO functions, management reporting and planning, corporate real estate, corporate purchasing, accounting services, asset/liability management, and mergers and acquisition support.

From 1998 through 2004, he was senior vice president and manager of National City Bank's Asset, Liability and Securitization division, where he was responsible for all aspects of asset/liability management, including interest rate risk, net interest income forecasting, liquidity analysis and capital planning.  In addition, Crowl developed the bank's credit card, auto and home equity securitization functions, and led multiple issuances of asset-backed debt.

Prior to joining National City, Crowl spent 12 years in a variety of positions at Crestar Bank, a $25 billion regional bank headquartered in Richmond, VA (acquired by SunTrust in 1998), where he was responsible for financial analysis, interest rate risk measurement and evaluation of hedging strategies for the company. 

Crowl earned a bachelor of arts and an MBA, both from University of Richmond in Richmond, Virginia.

Sun Bancorp, Inc. is a $3.6 billion asset bank holding company headquartered in Vineland, New Jersey.  Its primary subsidiary is Sun National Bank, serving customers through 70 locations in New Jersey.  The Bank is an Equal Housing Lender and its deposits are insured up to the legal maximum by the FDIC.  For more information about Sun National Bank and Sun Bancorp, Inc., visit www.sunnb.com.

PLYMOUTH MEETING, Pa., March 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Richard Ferst has been named chief executive officer of URDANG, a global real estate investment boutique and part of BNY Mellon Asset Management.  Ferst, who had been chief operating officer and president, retains his title of chief operating officer.  E. Scott Urdang, who founded the firm in 1987, had been chairman and chief executive officer. He retains the title of chairman.

In addition, Todd Briddell, URDANG's chief investment officer, has been named president of the investment manager.  He will continue as URDANG's chief investment officer.

"We are excited about URDANG's growth prospects as we transition to new leadership," said Ronald P. O'Hanley, president and chief executive officer of BNY Mellon Asset Management. "Scott Urdang has done a tremendous job in building URDANG into a successful real estate investment firm well positioned in both the public and private real estate markets and developing momentum. Richard Ferst has played a key role in shaping this growth, and we are confident that his leadership will benefit URDANG as it moves into new areas such as real estate debt." The firm's private real estate group, operating under Urdang Capital Management, continues to report directly to Ferst.

Ferst, who joined the company in 1998, has been overseeing all aspects of the company's business activities and has more than 35 years of management expertise.  Prior to joining URDANG, he was a partner, member of the governing board, and a regional managing partner for Laventhol & Horwath.  He also served in executive positions at Arthur Andersen LLP and lectured at The University of Pennsylvania's Wharton Entrepreneurial Center, Drexel University and Temple University.

He received his bachelor's degree in accounting from American University and his MBA from The George Washington University. He is a Certified Public Accountant.

Regarding the promotion of Briddell to president, Scott Urdang said, "Todd has been the driving force behind the growth and performance of our domestic and global REIT business. Over the past 15 years, Todd developed Urdang Securities Management into a well-respected asset management organization."  Looking ahead, Urdang said, "Todd will focus much of his energy on growing Urdang Securities Management and expanding URDANG's efforts in the debt market."

Briddell joined URDANG in 1993 as a member of its private equity acquisitions group, founded the listed property securities group in 1995, and led the design and development of its commercial real estate debt team in 2009.  He was awarded a bachelor's degree from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania.  He is a member of NAREIT, the CFA Institute/Society of Philadelphia and PREA, where he was co-chair of the Green Building Committee.

 PARIS, March 1 (Reuters) - French carmaker Renault (RENA.PA: Quote, Profile, Research) expects a tough 2010 as prospects for an economic recovery look more and more distant, its Chief Operating Officer said in a newspaper interview.

"A few weeks ago we expected a European (car) market down 10 percent. This assumed an economic upturn. But the information we now have is not as good as two to three months ago," Patrick Pelata told Liberation.

"The scenario of a recovery is being more and more delayed in time. That makes us rather cautious," he added.

The annual Geneva International Motor Show starts this week as many crisis-hit carmakers battle for their survival.

[Satellite TODAY 03-01-10] Indian DTH platform, DishTV is still a year away from launching HD services in India, COO Salil Kapoor told Satellite News. “We are working on HD services, but...

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C., March 1 (UPI) -- Military and government outsourcing contractor U.S. Logistics announced the appointment of a new chief operating officer.

U.S. Logistics in North Carolina selected 33-year Army veteran Chuck Swannack as the company's chief operating officer. U.S. Logistics provides tactical vehicle repairs, military base logistics and technical support for aircraft among other government and military outsourcing requirements.

Swannack joins U.S. Logistics following his retirement from the Army after serving as the 82nd Airborne Division commander at Fort Bragg, N.C. He retired with the rank of major general.

"I am proud and enthused to join this fine organization," Swannack said in a statement.

"Our commitment to our customers and to our own people is simple; to be the best we can be every day."

Soso.com, under the aegis of Tencent Holdings Ltd. (SEHK: 0700), is brewing to invite Ye Peng, former chief operating officer of Baidu, Inc. (Nasdaq: BIDU | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating), to join in and help it develop its search business, disclosed a well-informed source.

Soso.com inputs a lot into self-developed search engine, indicating that the company is bullish on the prospect of the Chinese-language search market.

The size of the Chinese search engine market will top CNY 10 billion in 2010, jumping 40% year on year, according to the data by technology, media as well as telecom (TMT) market researcher Analysys International.

The board chairman of Chinese e-commerce bellwether Alibaba once reportedly also met Ye Peng and hoped he to join in Alibaba.

On October 20, 2009, Taobao.com kicked off Beta testing on its independent search engine. Taobao is forecasted to increase its share in the Chinese search market to 22% in 2010, pointed out analyst Wallace Cheung.

New Executives Add Significant Global Health and mHealth Expertise to Rapidly Growing Organization

SAN DIEGO, March 1 /PRNewswire/ -- The West Wireless Health Institute (WWHI) today announced Amir Jafri has joined the Institute as its chief operating officer (COO).  Jafri joins WWHI from Cardinal Health and is responsible for driving the Institute's organizational effectiveness across departments.  In addition, WWHI has named Mitul Shah as its senior director of programs and partnerships for engineering.  Jafri's appointment is effective immediately and Shah will begin his new role on April 12.

WWHI, founded in March 2009 with a $45 million gift from the Gary and Mary West Foundation, is one of the world's first medical research organizations dedicated to cutting the cost of health care by identifying, creating, validating and accelerating the use of wireless technologies to transform medicine.  In addition to founding the Institute, Gary West is chairman of the board of directors.  The nonprofit Institute is headquartered in San Diego, California, the global hub for wireless life science research and development.

"Adding both Amir and Mitul to our team is not only another notable milestone for our organization, but sends the message that WWHI is 'the place to be' to truly transform healthcare," said West.  "Amir brings a strong track record of executing strategic growth centered on innovative healthcare, and I am excited about the energy and experience he brings to our team.  He is acutely aware of the crisis we are facing in healthcare and as COO will help ensure our operations correspond directly with our primary mission to cut costs and eliminate the waste that exists in medical practice."

In addition to overseeing the Institute's operations, Jafri will drive collaboration between the Institute's clinical and engineering teams to ensure quality control and regulatory adherence of research, development and validation activities.  Prior to joining WWHI, Jafri spent seven years at Cardinal Health, most recently serving as vice president of strategic programs.  He has held numerous senior management positions throughout his 20 year career in global healthcare and has founded successful healthcare startups in the areas of clinical and business services, enterprise technologies, and software engineering.  He has a B.S. with a double major in chemistry and biology, with a minor in history from Houston Baptist University.

"I am grateful for the opportunity to take this unprecedented journey with an organization on the cutting edge of technology, committed to empowering consumers and above all saving lives," said Jafri.  "I believe the West Wireless Health Institute will quickly become one of the most visionary research institutes in healthcare worldwide.  There is no better time to foster the collaboration of engineering and medicine, and we will be at the forefront of this movement through our educational initiatives, research and development activities, and clinical validation studies."

As senior director of programs and partnerships for the Institute's engineering department, Shah will work with the WWHI engineering team led by Dr. Mehran Mehregany as well as the Institute's business development staff to translate its engineering expertise, resources and capabilities into program and business opportunities.  Shah is recognized as an instrumental leader in the emerging wireless health industry, previously serving as senior director of technology partnerships for the United Nations Foundation (UNF) where he was responsible for its partnership with the Vodafone Group Foundation.  Prior to joining UNF, Shah held positions at the International Youth Foundation (IYF) and Inforte Corporation.  He holds a MBA from the University of Maryland at College Park, and a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of California at Riverside.

"I've traveled the globe in support of the widespread scale of wireless health and now will have the chance to work alongside the engineers building the most cost-effective, ground breaking products," said Shah.  "I look forward to watching the evolution of this amazing industry from an entirely new perspective, and being part of an organization that will nurture the next generation of wireless health innovators through its education, engineering and collaborative leadership."

"The Institute's engineering team is focused on developing solutions that meet unmet medical needs around the world.  Mitul has a vast network of connections in the mHealth sector and beyond, and will bring invaluable knowledge to the organization throughout the process of identifying productive partnerships that align with our educational and R&D initiatives," added West.

For more information on WWHI, please visit www.westwirelesshealth.org.

NDIANAPOLIS, IN -- (Marketwire) -- 03/01/10 -- The Schneider Corporation (http://www.schneidercorp.com), a provider of creative solutions for land, infrastructure and facilities projects that help increase revenue, lower costs and mitigate risk, announced that Karl Browning has joined the company as Chief Operating Officer.

Browning previously was commissioner of the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT), where he served in Governor Mitch Daniels' cabinet. Prior to being named commissioner of INDOT, Browning was Chief Information Officer of Indiana's Office of Technology (IOT).

Browning left public service in 2009 to return to the private sector. At that time, Governor Daniels said, "Karl Browning has been spectacular in this job. I did everything I could to keep him as long as I could. His legacy will live for generations through record-breaking road building that he has put in motion for Indiana."

Browning has spent nearly two-thirds of his career managing service delivery organizations with two Ross Perot service companies, EDS and Perot Systems, helping customers improve their operations and profitability. Immediately prior to joining the Daniels' administration, Browning served on the executive team of Golden Rule Insurance as senior vice president and Chief Information Officer.

"We are delighted to welcome Karl to The Schneider Corporation," said Victoria Schneider Temple, CEO and chairman of The Schneider Corporation. "Karl's background in customer-focused service delivery will enhance Schneider's momentum of increasing value to our customers, improving our efficiency and finding creative solutions to our clients' problems."

"This is an exciting time to be joining The Schneider Corporation," said Browning. "While the engineering, construction and architecture industries have changed dramatically over the past few years, Schneider has emerged as a financially sound company with a renewed focus on the customer. I look forward to helping take the company's growth to a new level."

Veolia Transportation Inc. announced that Ken Westbrook has been promoted to chief operating officer (COO) of its Transit Division. Previously, he was senior vice president, Eastern Region for the same division. In his new role, Westbrook will work with Chief Executive Officer Mark Joseph to continue Veolia Transportation's growth as the largest private-sector operator of multiple modes of transit in the United States.

As COO, Westbrook will lead the company's transit operations for its bus, paratransit, brokerage and bus rapid transit (BRT) contracts with transit authorities. This includes 120 locations and contracts in leading cities such as Las Vegas, Phoenix, Denver, Seattle, Baltimore, Dallas, Los Angeles, San Francisco and others. He will be responsible for the work of over 17,000 employees organized into seven regions.

Westbrook will lead the teams responsible for continuing to enhance the Transit Division's operational and financial performance, including safety, maintenance, customer service, technology, budgets, planning and staff development. He also will be responsible for the company's compliance with contract terms, as well as contract renewals and business growth.

"Ken brings a powerful combination of operational experience, strong customer relationships and a proven record of successful leadership to his new role at Veolia Transportation," said Joseph. "The experience he has gained in managing a diverse array of transit operations and his high-energy, people-oriented style will enable him to make a major positive impact in this new role."

Westbrook has had a distinguished career in transit operations. Early in his career, he was general manager for Jackson, Miss., and Pensacola, Fla., transit operations as part of ATC, a well-known private-sector operator of transit contracts. In 1999, he was promoted to regional vice president of the South/Central Region for ATC, and in 2007, to senior vice president of Veolia Transportation for the Eastern Region of the United States. Veolia Transportation acquired ATC in 2005.

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C., March 1 (UPI) -- Military and government outsourcing contractor U.S. Logistics announced the appointment of a new chief operating officer.

U.S. Logistics in North Carolina selected 33-year Army veteran Chuck Swannack as the company's chief operating officer. U.S. Logistics provides tactical vehicle repairs, military base logistics and technical support for aircraft among other government and military outsourcing requirements.

Swannack joins U.S. Logistics following his retirement from the Army after serving as the 82nd Airborne Division commander at Fort Bragg, N.C. He retired with the rank of major general.

"I am proud and enthused to join this fine organization," Swannack said in a statement.

"Our commitment to our customers and to our own people is simple; to be the best we can be every day."

* Q4 adjusted loss/shr 4 cents vs Street's 13 cent loss

* Q4 revenue up 8 pct, tops Street view

* Sees Q1 revenue $155 mln-$160 mln above Street view

* Says CEO to retire, names COO as replacement

* Shares fall 13 pct in after-market trade

SAN FRANCISCO, Feb 25 (Reuters) - Shoe maker Crocs Inc (CROX.O) reported a narrower fourth-quarter loss and shocked Wall Street with the sudden departure of its chief executive who has served for a year, sending its shares crashing 16 percent.

Chief Executive John Duerden, who was appointed a year ago, said he would be resigning effective March 1 and would be replaced by Chief Operating Officer John McCarvel.

The seller of once-trendy colorful plastic shoes has spent the last year trying to right its business, which has seen plummeting sales and suffered the attendant losses.

"The primary focus in 2010 will be restoring profitability," McCarvel told analysts during a call. "We're positioned for top line growth and full year profitability."

Crocs said it expects to break even in the first quarter on revenue of between $155 million and $160 million. [ID:nWNAB2179]

For the fourth quarter ended Dec. 31, Crocs posted a net loss of $11.5 million, or 13 cents a share, down from a loss of $34.7 million, or 42 cents a share, a year earlier.

Excluding items, it reported a loss of 4 cents a share.

Analysts, on average, were looking for a loss of 13 cents a share, on revenue of $117.2 million, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

Revenue at the Niwot, Colorado-based company rose 8 percent to $136 million, boosted by a 26 percent jump in retail sales.

Crocs' vibrant resin shoes were the rage midway through the decade. But the company found its operations out of line with reduced sales volume due to the economic downturn and shoppers' waning interest as the brand's novelty wore off.

On Wednesday, the shoe maker won a federal appeals ruling over a disputed patent covering the design of its plastic shoes. [ID:nN24120211]

Duerden came to Crocs from consulting group Chrysallis and managed to narrow the steep losses that had dogged the company by stabilizing its operations and cash position.

Soon after his arrival, the company avoided a cash crunch with an extension of its credit facility and Duerden began to focus on increasing the company's cash position.

The company has also tried to reinvigorate its product designs while opening retail stores to stem weakness in its wholesale division.

Croc's shares fell 16.5 percent to $6.50 after the bell after closing at $7.79, up 2.3 percent, on the Nasdaq.

Tim Conley, FaceTime Communications

The Belmont provider of tools for the use of Web 2.0 and unified communications appointed Tim Conley chief financial officer. Previously, he was CFO at Tumbleweed Communications.

Dave Corbin, NanoGram

The Milpitas developer and manufacturer of advanced materials and solutions for energy, optical and electronic materials named Dave Corbin chief executive officer. He was president and CEO at BrightScale.

Fred Corsentino, Exalt Communications

The Campbell provider of next-generation microwave backhaul systems appointed Fred Corsentino senior vice president of North America sales. He is former president of Saturn Ventures.

Gary DiCamillo, Eaglepoint Advisors

The San Francisco restructuring and crisis management firm appointed Gary DiCamillo as a partner. Recently, he was president and chief executive officer at Radia International.

Toby Gabriner, Adap.tv

The San Mateo creators of OneSource — the open and universal platform that provides publishers, advertisers and ad networks with an end-to-end video ad management platform — appointed Toby Gabriner president. Previously, he was president at Tribal Fusion.

Adrian Hall, Bytemobile

The Santa Clara provider of mobile Internet tools appointed Adrian Hall chief operating officer. Previously, he held global management positions at Hewlett-Packard.

George Rekouts, Efficient Frontier

The Sunnyvale Internet performance marketing provider named George Rekouts vice president of engineering. Previously, he served as senior vice president at ValueClick.

Paul Rolls, Integrated Device Technology

The San Jose provider of essential mixed signal semiconductor tools for digital media named Paul Rolls senior vice president of worldwide sales and marketing. Recently, he was senior vice president at International Rectifier.

Maria Swiatek, Nixon Peabody

The international law firm named Maria Swiatek as counsel in the Palo Alto office. Previously, she served at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius.

Jason Wang, The Global Semiconductor Alliance

The San Jose agency that helps accelerate the growth and increase the return on invested capital of the global semiconductor industry named Jason Wang to its board of directors. He is president of United Microelectronics.

MUMBAI: Global Entertainment Holdings has roped in motion picture and television producer Daniel A. Sherkow as the chief operating officer of Global Universal Entertainment, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary and the U.S. production arm of GBHL.

GBHL CEO Gary Rasmussen said, “Our U.S. film operations will now be lead by a man that knows every facet of the entertainment and motion picture business. Dan has arranged financing and produced successful and award winning films for ABC, NBC and CBS television, Time-Life Films, Paramount Pictures, Tri-Star Pictures, and Dick Clark Productions. Dan has also produced numerous successful Broadway projects and has advised foreign concerns such as Seoul Movie, the Korean animation company and The China Film Group, Corp., the official government agency of The People’s Republic of China, on financing, distribution and production of major motion pictures.”

Following senior management positions at NBC Television and Time-Life Films, and then Vice President, Production at Paramount Pictures and Tri-Star Pictures, Sherkow produced the feature motion picture Suspect.

Sherkow recently financed and produced the feature motion picture Being Michael Madsen, starring Michael Madsen, Daryl Hannah, Harry Dean Stanton, Virginia Madsen, and David Carradine.

Global Universal Entertainment COO Daniel A. Sherkow said, “Our unique financing strategy coupled with mitigating investor risk has certainly been proven correct. Three major motion pictures financed and completed in less than fifteen months in this uncertain economy speaks volumes as to the GBHL development strategy. GBHL’s first two pictures, Blue Seduction and American Sunset have been successful and we expect continued success and profitability with the Murder/Horror thriller Plaster Rock.”

If I was given R100-million, I'd play a round of roulette hoping for R200-million, then I'd take my family and friends on holiday. And the rest I'd invest wisely ...

I am ... grateful for having a close family and really good friends.

Where were you born? Durban.

Where do you live? Umdloti.

Who do you share your house with? My wife, Jane, and my two wonderful kids, Caine and Inez.

What have you learnt running a skin-care company that caters mainly to women? That women have become frustrated with skin-care products that over-promise and, in most cases, under-deliver.

Men who follow a skin-care regime are ... an anomaly. There is change under way.

One place in Durban you'd like to visit? I'd like to go to the top of the new Moses Mabhida Stadium.

The best joke you've ever heard is? That the country would fall apart after 1994.

What makes a brand? I would say that consumers create brands. When a product makes a connection in the heart and mind of a consumer, that product has become a brand.

What is it like to work with your brother? It's fantastic. Justin and I are both passionate about the business, the people that work in the business and the brand. Our skills are very different and this allows us to get on with what we are good at without questioning each other's next move.

If your house burnt down, what would you save? My family and staff and as many photo albums as possible. Especially the picture of my 18 month old smiling and looking into the camera - that doesn't happen often.

What do you think about the state of Durban's beaches? It saddens me. The council needs to get it right because it is affecting tourism and jobs.

What was your first car and when did you sell it? An old Alfa Romeo Giulietta. I bought it in 1989 and sold it the same year. It looked cool - which is important when you are 18 - but it became too expensive to run.

What is your our favourite possession? My home. It is the anchor for my family, and family is the most important thing to me.

Do you and your wife have date night? We do. Unfortunately, it is inconsistent as a result of my work.

What is the most romantic spot in Durban? Whatever place holds a special meaning for you and your partner.

I'm predisposed to ... being happy.

What's your favourite building in Durban? The City Hall. I prefer old architecture, but I appreciate the new and modern when it is done tastefully.

What's the ugliest thing about Durban? Durbanites that harp on about the negatives of living in Durban. They should count all the positives first.

What is the most memorable moment you've had in Durban? Getting married and the births of my two kids probably top the list. There have been many others, including returning to Durban after living in other cities for nine years.

How do you get around? In my reliable BMW.

I can't go a day without ... aircon. This is Durban we are talking about.

If you inherited R100-million what would you do with it? Put it on red on the roulette table - hoping for R200-million. I'd also use some of it towards a good holiday with family and friends and invest the rest wisely.

What CDs are you playing in your car? Ismael Lo's Jammu Africa and Yazoo's Upstairs at Eric's.

What are you reading? I wish I had more time for novels. A novel that I believe is worth a read is The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga. It's the story about a man's rise from lowly origins, through his experiences working in a teashop and on the streets of Delhi, to becoming an entrepreneur in Bangalore. It includes his views on India's caste system and its political corruption.

When I go out at night ... I never look as good as my wife. She has serious style.

My friends and I like ... good food, good fun and memorable times spent together.

If you made a movie about Durban, what would you call it? Zululand.

Perfect happiness is: Needing less not wanting more.

Have you ever taken public transport in Durban? My friends and I used to take the 4.15am bus on Saturday mornings from Durban North to go surfing at "the Bay of Plenty" - Durban Beach. A 30-minute ride with some fond memories. I was 12 years old at the time.

Everything in moderation but ... laughter.

I met my partner ... in the reception area of a multinational skin-care company. She was supplying "point of sale" material to them. I was running through some numbers on a spreadsheet. I did not ask her out then and there, although I should have. We met two years later by chance. I guess it was meant to be.

If money could buy happiness ... happiness would not be for sale.

Masco Corp announced that President and Chief Executive Officer Timothy Wadhams and Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Donald DeMarie will present at the Raymond James 31st Annual Institutional Investors Conference in Orlando, Florida on March 9, 2010 at 7:30 a.m. ET.

Masco Corporation's presentation will be webcast live on the Internet at http://www.wsw.com/webcast/rj54/mas/ or via the Company's Web site at www.masco.com. A replay of the webcast will be available via the above link or via Masco's Web site through March 23, 2010.

Headquartered in Taylor, Michigan, Masco Corporation is one of the world's leading manufacturers of home improvement and building products, as well as a leading provider of services that include the installation of insulation and other building products.

Provincial Tourism Chief Operating Officer Dindo Generoso has refused to renew his contract as Consultant of the Capitol citing the failure of the administration to implement most of the legal infrastructure designed to boost the local tourism industry.

Generoso’s resignation letter dated February 28 is hereby reproduced in full: “My functions are mainly dependent on the Provincial Tourism Governing Board, created by Sangguniang Panlalawigan Ordinance No.7 Series of 2005, which has not been operationalized by this administration.”

“The said Board had been legislated to exploit the more than 500M worth of our people’s money invested by the previous provincial administration in tourism-related infrastructures to capture a bigger share of the industry market and create a myriad job for Oriental Negrenses. These include the Negros Oriental Convention Center and Hotel, Sidlakang Negros Village, the Twin Lakes and the Mabinay caves, among other “white elephants” now draining more public funds instead of generating revenues for government and prosperity for our constituents.”

“I have issued numerous advisories, largely ignored by this administration, including one urging the activation of the Provincial Tourism Governing Board to pursue the government policy to “encourage, promote and develop tourism as a major socio-economic program of the Province.” “Tourism service providers in the private sector, whom he had organized for stronger participation as defined in the Board and envisioned by our legislators, remain paralyzed while waiting action by this administration.”

“For having been rendered unable to act to avert such squandering of tax payers’ money, manpower and infrastructure resources, I find my position untenable and feel it no longer necessary to remain Chief Tourism Operations Officer.”

CommonPlaces e-Solutions, LLC, an open source Web Application and Drupal development firm, is pleased to welcome Michael Fairbrother to the company. Fairbrother joins CommonPlaces as COO. His addition supports the continued and consistent growth within the company and reaffirms the company’s dedication to the success of its clients’ projects.

"Michael is the right person for our COO position without question,” expressed CommonPlaces President and CEO Ben Bassi, “and represents a major step in the continued growth plan for CommonPlaces. Fairbrother’s vast engineering experience, years of leadership roles within the software development industry, and his understanding of custom Web applications in particular, make him the right person to lead our talented engineering and project management teams to the next level – we’re all very excited to have him on board!”

For more than two decades, Michael Fairbrother has continually advanced in his career from Software Engineer, Consultant, Chief Architect, and most recently as Vice President of Software Engineering. His industry background includes mobile-technology, marketing management software, and privacy technology projects. Michael has the technical depth, and the product and business instincts to successfully lead and deliver value to CommonPlaces’ clients. He holds a B.A. in Computer Information Sciences from Merrimack College.

CommonPlaces is one of the fastest growing private companies in the US as listed in the 2009 Inc. 500. CommonPlaces is also featured in Forbes Magazine as one of the top 10 best web firms in the US and is winner of Web Marketing Association’s Web Innovation Award.

CommonPlaces e-Solutions (www.commonplaces.com) is a full-service open source development and online marketing firm focused on the integration of Web Content Management (such as Drupal), custom e-Commerce, and advanced online Communities and Social Networks to build profitable online business applications for Fortune 500 clients, national organizations, and educational institutions.

The debate over when and how Twitter will offer marketers paid placement among its 50 million daily tweets heated up last week when rumors emerged that Twitter will finally unveil its ad platform this month. For now, it's speculation, but clues to how Twitter might integrate advertising can be found in the clutch of companies already integrating brand messages in the Twitter ecosystem.

Twitter is unique in that it's a decentralized system. Its open application programming interface has allowed hundreds of developers to build programs that display and parse tweets. This has helped fuel its growth, and allows experiments in how brand advertising can work in the world of real-time status updates. Several startups over the past few months have introduced advertising to Twitter updates by various means, including matching up ad content to breaking news, brokering deals for celebrities and other tweeters to push products, and ad networks that plumb tweets for clues to a user's interests.

Twitter COO Dick Costolo promised late last year that Twitter's own advertising solution would be "fascinating" and "nontraditional." Yet the road to advertising in real-time status updates is filled with potholes as users will likely resist them. There's also the question of whether ads will work well in a communications environment.

"Relevance is going to be huge," said David Berkowitz, senior director of emerging media and innovation at 360i. It'll be about "where marketers [insert] themselves in conversations."

Twitter's search and trending topics are likely the first place advertising will appear because that's where users reveal their interests and where the most popular topics are visible. Clues can be found in real-time status search engine OneRiot that for the last two months has concentrated on media companies looking for traffic from hot chatter topics. Its RiotWise ad net takes a feed of headlines from Web publishers and matches them to what's trending on Twitter. A person looking for information about the whale killing a trainer at SeaWorld would get a link to a news story along with their Twitter search results.

Publishers and brands, particularly those that publish regularly, can use OneRiot's self-service system, which is much like Google's AdSense.

Hard-sell ad approaches won't work well on Twitter, said Tobias Peggs, gm of OneRiot. "Brands ... have to realize they have to come with different creative."

Search is only part of Twitter's strength; brands also tap its conversational power. That means getting into the stream of updates Twitter users see, whether on Twitter.com or the multitude of Twitter apps. Companies like Izea and Ad.ly are building networks that pump ads into the stream on behalf of publishers.

Izea was first out of the gates eight months ago with Sponsored Tweets, which closely resembles its controversial PayPerPost system for sponsored blog posts.

Users of all sizes can sign up to be matched with advertisers wanting to broadcast messages. Over 3,500 advertisers are using the self-service system, which lets users craft the company pitch but requires a #ad hashtag disclaimer.

A recent Sponsored Tweet from @mhandy1 read: "Cool Savings Calculator from Dish Network...Hockey fans they have Versus ;)... major plus!" Ad.ly has a similar system, only it standardizes the ad messages to give advertisers control. It's also relying more on established publishers like Newsweek and celebrities like Kim Kardashian.

"We're trying to be the AdSense of the stream," said Sean Rad, CEO of Ad.ly. Ad.ly claims 30,000 publishers have signed up, with Microsoft and NBC running campaigns generating click rates of between 1 and 3.5 percent, he said. Publishers get right of refusal for each placement, which typically doesn't happen in Web ad nets. "The model is new," Rad said. "We wanted to a take a sensitive approach."

Not everyone is sold on the idea of advertisers infiltrating the stream with messages that appear to come directly from users. 140 Proof has developed a more tried-and-true ad approach, crafting ads in the forms of tweets for advertisers such as Sears, which it places in ad units that show up on Twitter readers like UberTwitter and HootSuite.

Sears has used Twitter ads to promote, among other things, the cash for appliance clunkers program. It targeted Tweeters in the three states the federal rebate program is active, finding many retweeted the advertising post or followed up directly with Sears on Twitter with questions. "If you can combine targeting with conversations, that's very sexy," said Shaunak Dave, director of multi-channel integration at Sears Hometown Stores.

With 140 Proof, advertisers can reach users both on the desktop and phone, with targeting based on the content of a person's tweets, and who they follow. 140 Proof uses those factors to create a tag cloud for users it matches up to a similar word grouping for an advertiser. It also has a self-service system for small advertisers as well as a direct sales team for large brands. "We think there's a future advertising premise that is stream based, very focused on individuals and on real time," said Jon Elvekrog, CEO of 140 Proof.

Simplicity is going to be key for Twitter, said Ian Schafer, CEO of Deep Focus.

It has to temper its desire to build something completely innovative at the risk of alienating users due to an influx of commercials, and confusing advertisers with a new system that operates outside their other ad buys, he added. "It needs to be done in a very accessible way that even a caveman can understand," he said. "Otherwise, [it'll] be a tough sell."

Glens Falls Hospital

Dr. Karissa Scarabino joined the staff of Wilton Family Medicine, a service of Glens Falls Hospital. Most recently, she was with Neighborhood Health Center, a federally qualified health center in Pittsfield, Mass. Scarabino earned her doctor of osteopathic medicine degree from the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine in Biddeford, Maine. Scarabino begins her new position in March.

Andrew Kearney joined the staff of Broad Street Medical Group, a service of Glens Falls Hospital. Most recently, he was a physician assistant at Orthopedic Associates in Saratoga Springs.

MEDIA

Patricia Lynch Associates

Patrick McCarthy was named the Albany firm's managing partner. McCarthy, PLA lobbyist and partner for the last seven years, was press officer, deputy press secretary, director of intergovernmental affairs and appointments secretary in Gov. George Pataki's administration. He was also executive director of the New York State Republican Committee in 2001-2003.

Shorey Public Relations

Joslyn McArdle joined the Saratoga Springs public relations agency as an assistant account executive. She previously worked for MVP Healthcare.

NonProfits

New York Council of NonProfits

Kelly Mathews was promoted to chief operating officer at the Menands-based statewide association. Mathews has been with NYCON for 12 years. She is currently senior vice president of Financial Accountability and Compliance Services, a position she will retain in addition to her new COO responsibilities.

PROFESSIONS

Burke, Scolamiero, Mortati & Hurd LLP

Melissa J. Smallacombe was named partner of the firm at the new office in Hudson, 437 East Allen St.

Megan B. Van Aken, Thomas A. Cullen, Sharon A. Siegel and Adam C. Hover were named associate attorneys at the law firm. The firm has offices in Albany, Rome and Hudson.

CSArch Architecture/Construction Management

Ruby Silvious, a graphic design professional, joined the marketing team at the Albany office. From 1997 to 2008, she was marketing and creative services associate for the Primaloft Division of Albany International Corp.

Malcolm Pirnie Inc.

Maryam Amr joined the Clifton Park office of the environmental engineering firm as an energy engineer.

Alexander Michaels joined the Clifton Park office as an energy engineer.

The Chazen Companies

Eric Johnson of Delmar was promoted to senior project manager/senior project engineer at the engineering and landscape architecture services company. Johnson has been with the company since 2005.

Arlette Meader of Glens Falls was promoted to senior scientist/project manager. Meader has been with the company since 2007.

Tully Rinckey PLLC

John Predovan joined the Albany law firm as a marketing associate. He previously was a sales and marketing representative for a national Internet software company in Albany.

REAL ESTATE

Pinnacle Realty Saratoga LLC

Glory Gilbert of Mechanicville joined as a new agent.

Weichert, Realtors

Jill Birdsall was named manager of the Northeast Group office in Delmar.

Immediate opening for a COO for a design/ production women’s swim wear/sports wear company-

Duties:

    * Facilitate growth and expansion of the company’s current distribution chain of retail stores

    * Manage and oversee Connecticut office/staff as well as off shore design office

    * Integrate new inventory system and processes

    * Oversee Production department and coordinate production facilities both domestically and oversees

    * Have knowledge of financial’s, P/L and banking arrangements

Requirements:

    * 7-10 years of increasingly supervisory experience

    * Demonstrate knowledge and success in all facets coordinating internal operations

    * Show evidence of leadership and being a self motivated

    * BA degree and MBA preferred

Please respond with resume and salary requirements.

DUBAI (Zawya Dow Jones)-Mobile Telecommunications Co. Saudi Arabia (7030.SA), or Zain Saudi Arabia has exceeded 6 million active subscribers, the state-run Saudi Press Agency, or SPA, reports Sunday, citing the operator's chief operating officer Ismail Fikri.

Zain Saudi Arabia an affiliate of Kuwait's Mobile Telecommunications Co., better known as Zain Group, launched its operations in the oil-rich kingdom 18 months ago.

Saad Al Barrak, Zain Saudi Arabia's  chief executive officer, said earlier this month the firm's subscribers are expected to hit 7.5 million in 2010 compared with 6 million in 2009.

SignficantFederation, LLC, the holding company of Educacion Significativa, LLC, the new owner of InterAmerican College, announces the organization of the leadership team of InterAmerican College effective immediately. Dr. Yoram Neumann (formerly the President, CEO, and founder of TUI University) has assumed the position of President and Chief Executive Officer of InterAmerican College (IAC). Before founding TUI University in 1998, Dr. Yoram Neumann served as the Executive Vice President and Vice President for Academic Affairs at California State University, Dominguez Hills. Throughout his career, Dr. Neumann has been committed to excellence in higher education while enhancing the access and opportunities for underserved groups.

Dr. Edith Neumann (formerly the Vice President for Academic Affairs at TUI University) has been appointed as the Provost and Chief Academic Officer of IAC.

Tom Finaly (formerly Vice President for Administration at TUI University) has been named as the Chief Operating Officer of IAC.

Roy Finaly (the former Vice President for Information Technology at TUI University) has been appointed as the Chief Information Officer of IAC.

“The new leadership team will enable us to enhance the capacity and effectiveness of InterAmerican College and to provide the best learning experience to our students as a Hispanic serving institution” said Dr. Michael K. Clifford, the Chairman of SignificantFederation, LLC.

“The new leadership team has the proven track record with all the qualities synonymous with the InterAmerican College’s vision, mission, and values of meeting the professional needs of working adults from underserved groups, primarily those from the Hispanic communities, through high quality and student-centered learning” said Surendra Naidoo, President and Chief Executive Officer of SignificantFederation, LLC. “We are humbled and looking forward to InterAmerican College's future under Dr. Yoram Neumann’s leadership”.

“Our shared vision for InterAmerican College will allow it to continue expanding its learning-centered environment and to be responsive to the educational needs of diverse adult learners and the Hispanic communities, in general, and in Southern California, in particular” said Dr. Yoram Neumann. “We are honored to partner with SignificantFederation, LLC, a firm that brings a distinguished track record with a clear commitment to educational quality and integrity”

About InterAmerican College
Founded in 1997 to provide a unique learning environment based on academic rigor, personal attention, and fulfilling the educational needs of underserved populations including the Hispanic and Latino communities in Southern California, InterAmerican College (www.iacnc.edu) is uniquely successful in serving its target population and attaining its academic and social missions. The College offers degree programs in Nursing, Health Science, Education, Spanish, and Interdisciplinary Studies, is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), and is based in National City, California.

The failed Hershey-Cadbury deal in January has opened a new rift between top management of Hershey Co. and the Hershey Trust philanthropy that controls the chocolate company, according to observers and a company source with direct knowledge of the relationship.

This would be the second round of turmoil in three years between the trust, a sprawling philanthropic organization with prominent Republicans on its boards, and the candy company's top executives.

Wall Street analysts say that they don't know which direction the company is heading, and that they have seen this before.

Richard Lenny, the previous Hershey Co. chief executive officer, retired in 2007 in a dispute with the trust over his dealings with Cadbury in 2007, according to published reports. He was replaced by his chief operating officer, David West.

Now "the trust and David West weren't on the same page with Cadbury," said Samuel Weaver, a former Hershey executive who is a finance professor at Lehigh University. "They need to work on their relationship."

The $7 billion Hershey Trust was looking for a transformative deal that would quickly take Hershey bars and Reese's peanut butter cups to the global stage. Buying Cadbury would do that. The trust, according to sources, had arranged $19 billion in financing in late 2009, and trust board members met with Cadbury officials in October in the Stafford Hotel in London to pledge support for a combination.

West, meanwhile, has preached in presentations on Wall Street of incrementally growing the Hershey brands in overseas markets, as well as signing joint ventures and buying smaller companies. He had expressed concern about taking on too much debt in a big deal.

West declined to comment for this story, and trust spokesman Tim Reeves declined to comment on the relationship.

"We get mixed signals out of this company," said Jack Russo, senior consumer analyst with Edward Jones. "They should come clean. . . . There are a lot of inconsistencies."

B. Craig Hutson, bond analyst with the rating firm Gimme Credit, said, "The problem here is that you have a trust whose interest is not aligned with those of other public shareholders. They want the income stream and they want control, and control is the biggest thing. It puts them at a disadvantage and is not consistent with the best way to enhance shareholder value."

The Hershey Trust, indeed, is not the typical shareholder. It's a nonprofit charitable organization that owns golf courses, hotels, and amusement parks, in addition to an 80 percent voting control of the candy company.

Its entities employ about 13,000 in the Harrisburg area and the dividends from the for-profit ventures finance its main philanthropic mission - an 1,800-student school for poor children in the same town as the Hershey Co. headquarters. The trust estimates that one-third of the profits from Hershey candy sales directly support the school through stock dividends.

The trust functioned for decades without controversy. Then in 2002 a trust board negotiated to sell the chocolate company to Wm. Wrigley Jr. Co. Mike Fisher, who was state attorney general then, aborted the Wrigley sale and helped oust trust board members connected with it. Leroy Zimmerman, a former two-term Republican state attorney general, was appointed chairman of the new board with the goal of reconnecting the trust with the community.

Other Republicans joined Zimmerman on three paid boards connected to the trust. The boards are for the Hershey Trust Co., the Hershey Entertainment & Resorts Co., and the Hershey Co., the famed candy-maker.

Among the members on trust-related boards are former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge on the Hershey Co. board, former Pittsburgh Steeler and gubernatorial candidate Lynn Swann on the entertainment company board, and James E. Nevels, the former chairman of the Philadelphia School Reform Commission, on the Hershey Trust Co. and Hershey Co. boards.

Swann's role on the entertainment board has no direct bearing on the fate of the chocolate company but is part of the broader Hershey Trust structure that finances the school.

Robert Sitkoff, a Harvard law professor and expert on the Hershey Trust, said Republican influence in the trust flows from Pennsylvania's regulation of charitable trusts, which resides mostly in the Attorney General's Office. Pennsylvania voters have always elected a Republican attorney general.

Supporters say that the trust is now far more responsive to local concerns and that post-2002 trust boards brought a wealth of talent and skills to the philanthropic organization that controls the chocolate company and the other companies.

"You are talking about some of the most prominent Pennsylvanians getting involved in the administration of Mr. Hershey's trust," said Ernie Preate, who once regulated the Hershey Trust as state attorney general. "They are very intelligent and very good, conservative people. You will not see them making radical moves," he said.

Charles Gerow, a political consultant in Harrisburg, said, "It's fair to say that Leroy Zimmerman is at the pinnacle of influence in Pennsylvania. He is one of the most sought-after senior statesmen in the state."

But others say the changes have politicized the trust, and trust-related board positions are lucrative for those who hold them.

The boards pay $100,000 to $200,000 a year, although an individual who sits on more than one can earn more. Zimmerman, as chairman of the Hershey Trust Co. board and member of the candy and entertainment boards, earned $436,367 in compensation and retirement benefits, according to a nonprofit IRS filing for the year ended July 31, 2008.

John W. Schmehl, a partner with Dilworth Paxson L.L.P., said director fees on Hershey Trust-related boards has risen in recent years and the directors should forgo or return the fees to the trust so the money would "be available for the Hershey Trust's child-saving mission."

Reeves, the spokesman, said the trust periodically surveys the compensation practices at other nonprofits. "Board service on the Hershey Trust has a magnitude of responsibility and liability unlike other traditional nonprofit organizations," he said.

Reeves said that politics hasn't played a role in the trust and that Zimmerman was a logical choice to head it because he understood the workings of the Attorney General's Office.

"The trust's actions - whether you love them or hate them - are as obligations of the trust," Reeves said. "There is nothing partisan about the trust's obligation to serve needy kids. There is no political work to be done."

Reeves said there was a Pennsylvania Democrat on the Hershey Trust board: James Mead, who was an official in Gov. Milton Shapp's administration.

As for the company, Reeves said the trust was a "vigorous and tenacious advocate for creating value for all shareholders." The trust has stated publicly that it would maintain control of Hershey and that it would keep the company "rooted" in Pennsylvania, he said.

But the issues remain: how the trust and the company can get along, and how to bring Hershey Co.'s candy products to the global stage.

The trust and the company have looked for a transformative deal since the late 1980s. The company is No. 1 in the chocolate industry in the United States but No. 4 globally in candy-market share. Most of its potential merger partners are paired up and it will be facing a new bigger threat with Cadbury eventually being bought by Kraft.

"They are in a difficult spot," said Gimme Credit's Hutson. "There is always the risk when you are up against a much larger and better-financed competitor that you will be at their mercy for pricing and you won't be the category captain with the retailers."

Russia's No.3 oil firm TNK-BP expects 2010 hydrocarbon output to rise by 1-2 percent excluding the Slavneft business, chief operating officer Bill Schrader told Reuters in an interview late Friday.

"Our target this year is for growth between 1 and 2 percent (for hydrocarbon output)...excluding Slavneft," Schrader said.

In 2009, oil and oil equivalent output was 1.69 million barrels per day.

The executive at the company, which is half owned by oil major BP (BP.L), also stressed that the joint-venture recorded a profit in 2009 despite a number of business and legal disputes.

"There are rules and regulations you have to follow to operate in this country," the executive said,

"The rules we have here are understandable and we can operate in this environment profitably and you will see it in the announcement of 2009 results.

TNK-BP is scheduled to release its financial results for 2009 on March 1.

POINTS OF CONTENTION

The company is currently involved in a dispute over its East Siberian Kovykta gas field, with Russia's RosPrirodNadzor environmental watchdog recommending stripping TNK-BP's licence. [ID:nLDE61G1OX]

Schrader declined to comment on the matter.

The company was involved in a similar dispute in 2007, when it agreed to sell Kovykta to state-controlled gas transport monopoly Gazprom (GAZP.MM) for around $1 billion in a deal that has thus far failed to materialise.

The following year a dispute erupted between BP and its mainly Russian partners which resulted in the departure of then-chief executive Robert Dudley.

Schrader said this dispute is in the past, and that all shareholders are united behind a single strategy.

"Now we have got a new board, independent directors...I think the company is operating very well and the shareholders dispute is truly in the past," he said.

"I think the dispute actually brought all parties closer together and 2009's performance will demonstrate that it probably has made the company stronger."

In a separate interview on Friday, TNK-BP co-owner German Khan told Reuters his company was seeking either to keep Kovykta or sell the field for around $1 billion.

Khan added that talks with Gazprom were not active and that TNK-BP is "looking for other options." [ID:nLDE61P1OZ]

EXPANSION PLANS

Schrader also said he is looking forward to working with new chief executive Maxim Barsky, who will join the company in 2011 and continue to pursue TNK-BP's new strategy of international and domestic expansion adopted after Dudley's departure.

"There are lots of things to work on both in Russia, around Russia and a number of CIS countries, as well as opportunities internationally," Schrader said.

TNK-BP plans to invest $1.7 billion in two Siberian projects over the next three years, as well as $180 million in Venezuela.

The company could also form a strategic partnership with PKN (PKNA.WA) in order to manage the Polish company's Mazeikiu refinery in Lithuania.

"Our business is healthy now and we are looking for opportunities for growth," Schrader said.

John Duerden, 69, announced he will be stepping down as CEO of Crocs (NASDAQ: CROX). He will be replaced by company Chief Operating Officer James McCarvel.

While the stock peaked in fall 2007 around $70 per share, it was trading at just $6.97 per share near the end of trading on Friday. The stock has shed 10.27% the day following the announcement.

Loss of popularity and its diminishing cult-like following contributed to the full year revenue loss of 10.5% ($42.1 million) or about $0.49 per share.

On the topic of his successor, former CEO Duerden had this to say: “He brings a long track record of success in managing Crocs’ global operations. His broad experience in all aspects of Crocs’ business makes him the right person to lead the company into the next stage of its development and to build on Crocs’ many strengths."

An investigation into a Jackson consulting firm found employees of the firm hidden on the hospital payroll, free apartments and allegedly stolen e-mails that got an executive fired.

In a glaring example of how the Jackson Health System has wasted money, a new investigative report reveals how a Chicago consulting firm was paid $1.8 million over 2 ½ years -- including money for three little-used downtown Miami apartments and four employees hidden on the system's payroll in a plan intended to disguise how much money was being spent.

The no-bid contract of Capitol Consulting LLC was terminated last July, after Eneida Roldan took over as chief executive. According to the report, a Jackson executive accessed Roldan's e-mail account to authorize payment of $31,568.74 for Capitol expenses.

The deception was caught and payment stopped. The executive, unnamed in the report, was fired.

``I terminated that contract,'' Roldan said in an interview. ``I believe it was in the first week after I took over. And that employee was dismissed the first day.''

Capitol Consulting managing partner David LeClercq told The Miami Herald Friday that his firm behaved honorably and had nothing to do with underhanded payments. He said the company worked more than 1,100 hours it didn't bill for. He said the firm got caught in a change of administrations. ``A lot of things were going on.''

The report, by JM Advisory Group, recommended that the ``appropriate authorities'' conduct a legal review of the procurement policies of the Public Health Trust, which governs Jackson, and identified ``broader issues that the Trust must address in order to protect the integrity of the organization.''

The report, finished earlier this month, was ordered by Roldan and the Public Health Trust. It was obtained by The Herald under a public records request. It has not yet been formally presented to the PHT.

The PHT chairman, John Copeland, did not return a phone call.

Capitol was brought in to find labor savings and other efficiencies to help Jackson reduce costs, but the report chided the company several times for adding to the troubled system's costs, not reducing them.

The consultants started at Jackson in January 2007. Eugene Bassett, then chief administrative officer at Jackson Memorial, and Marvin O'Quinn, then CEO, were ``the two JHS executives primarily responsible for bringing Capitol Consulting to Jackson,'' the report said.

O'Quinn, who left Jackson in December 2008 for a job in California, did not respond to a request for comment. Bassett, who became chief operating officer and then interim chief executive after O'Quinn left, stepped down last summer after Roldan took the top position and could not be located.

Jackson regulations require that the Public Health Trust approve any no-bid contracts over $100,000, but the dealings with Capitol were set up to appear to be below that threshold.

After three consultants were working for 11 months, four other Capitol employees were put on the Jackson payroll starting in November 2007. ``Two high-ranking Human Resources officials said former Jackson executives told them they needed to put the consultants on the payroll to avoid the cumbersome process of getting a contract through the PHT board,'' the report said.

LeClercq said Jackson wanted the Capitol employees on its payroll ``for ease of the payroll process,'' not to hide anything. In fact, he said that ultimately the Public Health Trust approved the contract.

The report said that only the ``third and final contract with Capitol'' went before the board. It was approved on Aug. 8, 2008 -- about 1 ½ years after the consultants had started. The board approved a $660,000 contract. That was ``technically accurate,'' but the approved final contract didn't mention the $1.016 million in payroll costs, the report said. It's not clear how much time those payroll payments covered. The report went on:``The HR officials said they were promised the PHT board would be presented with a contract for Capitol once the consultants had time to prove their worth, at which time they would be removed from the payroll,'' said the JM report. ``That didn't happen.''

 According to the report, ``Jackson payroll clerks said they were ordered to automatically enter time sheets for the Capitol consultants, resulting in payment for time not worked on holidays,'' the report said.

Three consultants, not on the payroll, were paid through three separate contracts. ``Several times the consultants were signed in as working eight hours on holidays. For example, Capitol Consulting Managing Partner David LeClercq was paid for eight hours on Dec. 25, 2007, and eight hours on Jan. 1, 2008.'' Travel records show he wasn't even in Miami those days, the report said.

``Asked about this phenomenon, a JHS payroll clerk said she was instructed by a former JHS executive to `auto-enter' a set schedule for the consultants into the Kronos time-keeping system without documentation,'' the report said.

``The payroll clerk said she pointed out that the consultants were being paid for holidays but was told `not to ask questions, just do it.' Given that part of Capitol's mission was to educate staff about the importance of accurate time-keeping, the optics of this arrangement are less than desirable.''

LeClercq said that's completely untrue. Capitol billed only for hours worked, he said, and in the end waived collection of $100,000 in billings because it recognized Jackson's precarious financial position.

However, a Jackson internal audit in July 2009 questioned $132,836 in Capitol billings -- ``nearly half of it time billed for holidays,'' the report said. It's unclear if Jackson paid these billings. The report noted that ``no one has conducted a review of the value of Capitol's work in terms of whether JHS achieved the labor savings and budget efficiencies promised by Capitol.'' But Capitol did present bi-weekly reports, the report said.

The three outside consultants each were given $1,630-a-month apartments at the Yacht Club at 1111 Brickell Ave., where they typically stayed for no more than nine days a month, the report said.

``Capitol has stated that renting apartments was cheaper than paying for hotels,'' the report said. ``This is probably true, but the question arises as to whether Capitol needed three separate apartments rather than one that could be commonly shared. This is not an insignificant point, given Capitol's push to enforce concepts of efficiency on JHS staff.''

At some point last year, Jackson security ``concluded that a former JHS executive who was responsible for the day-to-day administrative management of the Capitol contract had unauthorized electronic access to the CEO's Outlook calendar.'' Security found on the unnamed person's computer a memo supposedly from Roldan to authorize the $31,000 payment to Capitol. In an exit interview, ``the executive denied breaching the CEO's computer or any wrongdoing.'

The fired executive couldn't be located for comment.

Pakistan Cricket Board Chief Operating Officer Wasim Bari visited Naudero to inspect the progress of the under construction Ghari Khuda Bakhsh Cricket Stadium.

PCB is managing the up gradation of facilities at the ground through the District Cricket Association Larkana. Bari reviewed the progress on the works so far such as the Nets area, and the tube well facilities at the ground. He assured the provision of an auto cutter to further improve the quality of the field.

Bari urged the timely completion of the ground works so that the entire district can benefit from the world class facilities. “The provision of the new world class ground would be a huge boost for cricket enthusiasts in the area,” said Bari.

“The new stadium will harness the huge talent pool of players in the district as well as provide local clubs and associations a top quality venue to organize their tournaments,” he added.

RenaissanceRE Holdings Ltd (NYSE:RNR) has promoted its current Senior Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer, Peter Durhager, to the position of Executive Vice President.  Durhager will continue to report to the company’s Chief Executive Officer Neill Currie.  He will also serve as the Chief Administrative Officer and as a member of the company’s Executive Committee.

Durhager joined the company as the Chief Administrative Officer in 2003.  He has served as the President of the Company’s Global Shared Services division with responsibilities such as human resources, organizational development, marketing, communications, operations and information technology.  Previous to his time at RenaissanceRE, Durhager served as the co-founder, President and Chief Operating Officer of Promisant Ltd., Chairman and CEO of Logic Communications Ltd., and President and CEO of Millennium International Limited.

RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. (RenaissanceRe) is a provider of reinsurance and insurance coverages and related services. The Company’s principal products include property catastrophe reinsurance, which it writes through its operating subsidiary Renaissance Reinsurance Ltd. (Renaissance Reinsurance) and joint ventures, principally DaVinci Reinsurance Ltd. (DaVinci) and Top Layer Reinsurance Ltd. (Top Layer Re); specialty reinsurance risks written through Renaissance Reinsurance and DaVinci, and primary insurance and quota share reinsurance, which it writes through the operating subsidiaries of the RenRe Insurance Holdings Ltd. (RenRe Insurance). It operates in two segments, Reinsurance and Individual Risk. During the year ended December 31, 2009, the Reinsurance and Individual Risk segments accounted for approximately 69.3% and 30.7%, respectively, of the Company’s total consolidated gross premiums written.

Radio City has announced the elevation of Ashit Kukian to COO and President – Ad Sales. Prior to this, he was President - Sales at Radio City. Besides Kukian, there have been some other senior level elevations – Anil Dimri has been elevated to CTO and Senior EVP, Sagorika Kantharia is now EVP & Head – HR, while Reshma Khalid has been elevated to CFO & VP, and Rachna Kanwar to VP - Digital Media & New Business.

In conversation with exchange4media, Apurva Purohit, CEO, Radio City, said, “The organisation has done very well in the last one year, and the next couple of years will only be full of opportunities, because slowly and steadily the economic environment is improving, and hopefully with further de-regulation in the radio industry, there will be lot many opportunities of growth. What we are doing at Radio City is just preparing the road that would lead the organisation to the next level.”

“We will look at organic growth and non-radio sectors to expand. For instance, we launched our audio book, Planet Radio City, etc. So, we will be looking at more such opportunities where we can use our core competency of audio expertise and see how we can expand. In the non-radio segment we are certainly working very aggressively but, on the radio sector we will have to wait and watch,” Purohit added.

In recent months, Radio City has been consolidating its position in the radio industry and has reportedly emerged as the No. 2 network across all its markets as per the latest IRS 2009 survey, especially in the key markets of Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore. Radio City recently launched a new business venture – ‘The City of Tales’, an audio book for children with two titles in Hindi and English.

NEW YORK-Pan-European multilateral trading facility (MTF) Chi-X Europe will not replace former chief operating officer (COO) Hirander Misra, who resigned Feb. 19, saying he planned to pursue other interests.

Misra's broad role at the MTF reflected its needs at its inception, but because Chi‑X has expanded its management team with specialists dedicated to regulatory and technology issues, many of Misra's ...

Craig Axford has been named executive director of the Citizens Education Project. Most recently, he was with the Utah State Democratic Party.

Ken Klaer has been appointed to the Broadcast International Inc. Board of Advisors. Klaer is vice president and general manager of Cisco's International CATV business unit, part of Cisco's Service Provider Video Technology Group.

Annette Jarvis has been named co-chair of the Finance and Restructuring Department of law firm Dorsey & Whitney. Jarvis is a partner in the firm's Salt Lake City office. She has experience representing various parties in Chapter 11 bankruptcy cases.

Greg Butterfield and Glen Mella have been named to the board of directors at ContentWatch. Butterfield is managing partner of mentor capital firm SageCreek Partners and has held executive positions at several technology companies. His education includes a degree from Brigham Young University. Mella is president and chief operating officer of Control4 and has held management positions at large publicly traded companies and early-stage technology ventures. His education includes a degree from Brigham Young University.

Mike McGown and Sam Quigley have joined Magnum Gas Storage LLC. McGown has been named chief financial officer. Previously, he was chief financial officer for an oil company and has worked in the energy investment banking group and the corporate finance groups of a pair of other companies. Quigley is the company's general manager. He has more than 38 years of experience in the Utah mining industry. His education includes a degree from the University of Utah.

Teresa Leavitt has been appointed senior director of human resources for Wilson Sporting Goods and Amer Sports Americas. She moves from Ogden, where she was director of human resources for Amer Sports Winter & Outdoor Americas since 2007, to Chicago, the headquarters for Wilson. Leavitt will provide human resources guidance and support for Amer Sports Latin America and all the Amer Sports U.S. brands. She also will be responsible for developing regional human resources initiatives for Wilson and Amer Sports Americas. Her education includes degrees from the University of Utah.

Brad Llewelyn has been promoted to senior land surveyor and head of land surveying operations at Focus Engineering & Surveying. Llewelyn has more than 24 years of field survey mapping experience.

Bradford W. Pack has been appointed as a new partner at the Accend Group. Pack previously was vice president of finance and accounting for a Salt Lake City investment company. He also has experience in the U.S., Europe, Middle East and Asia for industries including construction, manufacturing, information technology services, software and telecommunications. His education includes a degree from Brigham Young University.

John C. Rooker, Richard G. Sorenson, Jason M. Yancey and Tiffany Brown have joined the Salt Lake City office of the law firm Jones Waldo. Eric P. Lee and Robert C. Dillon have joined the firm's Park City office. Stephanie Charter has joined the firm's St. George office. Rooker's litigation practice focuses on construction and real estate development disputes. His education includes a degree from Brigham Young University. Sorenson's practice consists primarily of commercial litigation, with an emphasis in construction disputes, real estate and contract law. His education includes a degree from the University of Utah. Yancey's practice focuses on commercial litigation in the areas of construction, land development, real estate and contracts. His education includes a degree from Brigham Young University. Brown practices in the firm's domestic and family law practice group. Previously, she worked at a Utah-based law firm, as a prosecutor at the Salt Lake County District Attorney's office, an assistant attorney general in the Child Protection Division and as an attorney in the Utah State Court Office of the Guardian ad Litem. Lee has more than 20 years of legal experience. He provides both affirmative and defensive litigation services to a variety of clients in business, construction and real estate, among other fields. His practice also includes zoning, planning, land use and entitlement work. Lee's education includes a degree from the University of Utah. Dillon focuses his practice on real estate transactions. He has more than 35 years experience in commercial real estate. Charter focuses her family law practice on adoption, termination of parental rights, custody and divorce.

W.W. Clyde & Co. has reorganized its management and created two new divisions: a heavy/highway division and a special projects division. David R. Hales, president and chief executive officer, will oversee both divisions. Joe Woolley, a 30-year veteran of the industry, joins W.W. Clyde & Co. from sister company Geneva Rock Products. Woolley will manage business development efforts for both divisions. Vice president Jeffrey R. Clyde will lead the Heavy/Highway Division. The rest of the management of the division will be Dustin Olson, operations manager, and Allan Scheib, area manager of construction. Vice president Scott Okelberry will manage the Special Projects Division. Okelberry's management team includes Jeff Cochran, formerly of W.W. Clyde's sister company Geneva Rock Products, as project sponsor; Mike Bigsby, senior project manager; and Alan Preston, also formerly of Geneva Rock Products, as project manager.

Russ Bradshaw has been appointed managing partner at Child, Van Wagoner & Bradshaw LLC, and Natalie Murphy, KristoferHeaton and Ryan Hiller have been promoted at the firm. Bradshaw has been a partner at CVB for four years and has worked in public accounting for more than 23 years. His education includes degrees from Brigham Young University. Murphy has been promoted to audit manager. Since joining CVB in 2001, she has specialized in audits of SEC registrants and has experience with audits of HUD, not-for-profit and privately held entities. Her education includes a degree from Weber State University. Heaton has been promoted to senior auditor. He has worked for CVB for more than a year and specializes in HUD audits and not-for-profit entities. His education includes degrees from Brigham Young University and Weber State University. Hiller has been promoted to senior auditor. He has worked for CVB for more than two years and specializes in private and publicly traded companies. His education includes degrees from the University of Utah.

Cody Jensen and Lisa Ercanbrack have joined Grand America Hotel as line chefs. Both are graduates of the Davis Applied Technology College.

Tony Palma has been named chief executive officer of Ogio. Palma previously worked at another sporting goods company as CEO for 14 years and later as CEO of a merged company. He also spent eight years with an accounting firm.

Eliot Management Group has announced several management changes. Jeff Hodlmair is vice president of operations and business development. He has been with the company for 10 years. Shane Schut is director of sales development. Amber Keyes is director of marketing. She has been with the company for nine years in several positions, including the past two years as senior marketing and brand manager. Alvaro Vides is director of information technology and facilities. He has been with EMG since 2001.

Leslie Ashton has been named a vice president and wealth management consultant for the Private Client Reserve at U.S. Bank, working at the bank's location in downtown Salt Lake City. Ashton has more than 20 years of experience in the industry.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Cablevision Systems Corp. is testing a new mobile phone that can work with Wi-Fi and cellular networks.

Along with other cable operators, Cablevision is looking for a way to counter the growing trend of consumers disconnecting their landline phones in favor of cell phones.

Tom Rutledge, Cablevision's chief operating officer, talked about the company's mobile phone plans to analysts during the company's fourth-quarter earnings conference call.

QUESTION: Can you tell us more about the wireless voice test and would you be more likely to build or rent a cellular network?

RESPONSE: We are trialing phones that switch from Wi-Fi to cellular and back as you move in and out of Wi-Fi and cellular zones. So when you are in a Wi-Fi zone, the traffic goes over our Wi-Fi and ... cable network. And when you are outside of our footprint or outside of this Wi-Fi footprint, the signal travels through a cellular network.

The test is so far proving to be good and consistent with our view of what is possible and gives us some hope that we will be able to launch additional products using the Wi-Fi network that will look like what some people think of as cellular telephone.

We haven't made those decisions (about whether to build a cell network or lease capacity), but the latter outcome would be a less capital-intensive, higher-return business.

WuXi PharmaTech (NYSE: WX) plans to continue its growth by expanding into biotech, safety evaluation and manufacturing. In fact, to make the growth a reality, the company invests about $60 million each year in capital expenditures.

The overview of WuXi’s outlook and operations was published recently in the China Daily, including an interview with Edward Hu, COO of the company (see article).

"The majority of our clients are big international firms, with Pfizer (PFE) and Merck (MRK) ranking as the top two,” said Hu. “As business expands, we want to win more clients, big or small, and get more orders from current customers.”

As ChinaBio Today reported earlier this week, WuXi PharmaTech received AAALAC accreditation for its Suzhou tox lab, which began operations in 2009.

Also this week, WuXi PharmaTech was granted GMP compliance from the European Medicines Agency (EMEA), for its c-GMP drug product manufacturing and analytical testing facilities located in Shanghai.

Revenues for 2009 are expected to rise by 10% to about $270 million. That’s a far cry from the 100% growth the company reported in the 2005-8 period. But considering that most of the CRO industry has experienced cutbacks in the last year, WuXi has reason to be proud of its performance. For 2010, Hu would say only that revenues will rise "above last year's level."

WuXi is also expanding its manufacturing capabilities with plans to build a large-scale biological manufacturing facility in the works. At the beginning of 2008, WuXi PharmaTech bought AppTec, a US-based company that included a biologics manufacturing business. Unfortunately, the bottom dropped out of that sector, and WuXi closed the biologics unit at the end of 2008. Now, apparently, it wants to establish the business in China.

Big pharma companies continue to increase their R&D, though the 3% to 4% rate is not spectacular. However, more and more of their work is being outsourced – about a 6% to 8% growth rate in that category. And an increasing percentage of that work is being done in China, whose CRO industry is increasing revenues at an 18% rate.

Or, as WuXi’s COO Hu says modestly, "Growth for China's CRO market will be far above the global average.”

Cathay Pacific plans to raise its stake in Air China when the time is right, revealed Cathay's chief operating officer, John Slosar.

"It is certainly on the cards. There are no restrictions on how and when we could do that. And when the time is right, when the business is good, we will certainly look at doing that," Slosar told CNBC on Friday.

Cathay currently owns an 18% stake in Air China. The Chinese carrier, meantime, upped its holdings in Cathay last year to 30% from 17.5% by buying shares in the airline from Citic Pacific.

His comments came on back of a cargo joint venture announcement between both companies, which will see Cathay investing $125 million to tap the growth in China's Yangtze River Delta region.

"I think it deepens our partnership with Air China and we see a lot more room to do great things with them in the future," said the COO. "We think by bringing together our shared strengths, we can do the best for both of us."

"(The deal) greatly expands Cathay Pacific's footprint in China, which certainly is a strategic goal for us," added Slosar. "We want to have more exposure to China."

Slosar expects the joint venture to be up and running by mid-year and has expressed that the airline will "make all the necessary applications that (it) needs to get this venture through safely".

CHICAGO, Feb 26, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Veolia Transportation Inc. announced that Ken Westbrook has been promoted to chief operating officer (COO) of its Transit Division. Previously, he was senior vice president, Eastern Region for the same division. In his new role, Westbrook will work with Chief Executive Officer Mark Joseph to continue Veolia Transportation's growth as the largest private-sector operator of multiple modes of transit in the United States.

As COO, Westbrook will lead the company's transit operations for its bus, paratransit, brokerage and bus rapid transit (BRT) contracts with transit authorities. This includes 120 locations and contracts in leading cities such as Las Vegas, Phoenix, Denver, Seattle, Baltimore, Dallas, Los Angeles, San Francisco and others. He will be responsible for the work of over 17,000 employees organized into seven regions.

Westbrook will lead the teams responsible for continuing to enhance the Transit Division's operational and financial performance, including safety, maintenance, customer service, technology, budgets, planning and staff development. He also will be responsible for the company's compliance with contract terms, as well as contract renewals and business growth.

"Ken brings a powerful combination of operational experience, strong customer relationships and a proven record of successful leadership to his new role at Veolia Transportation," said Joseph. "The experience he has gained in managing a diverse array of transit operations and his high-energy, people-oriented style will enable him to make a major positive impact in this new role."

Westbrook has had a distinguished career in transit operations. Early in his career, he was general manager for Jackson, Miss., and Pensacola, Fla., transit operations as part of ATC, a well-known private-sector operator of transit contracts. In 1999, he was promoted to regional vice president of the South/Central Region for ATC, and in 2007, to senior vice president of Veolia Transportation for the Eastern Region of the United States. Veolia Transportation acquired ATC in 2005.

Apple’s Chief Operating Officer Tim Cook reckons that people will ditch their Netbooks because of the ‘magic’ of the iPad.

Cook was talking at the Goldman Sachs Technology and Internet Conference in San Francisco and although he discussed a wide range of topics, he particularly focussed on the iPad.

Nothing unusual about that, after all it was only launched last month but what is interesting is his take on how the iPad will impact on Netbooks.

“The netbook is not an experience people are going to continue wanting to have,” Cook said.

“When they play with the iPad and experience the magic of using it… I have a hard time believing they’re going to go for a netbook.”

So let’s see. If I recall recent media reports, far from giving a magical experience, the iPad is quite likely to frustrate people with what it can’t do and hasn’t got.

Now the Netbook on the other hand that’s magic. Who could argue about how successful that humble little device has been and continues to be whether you like them or not?

Cook says he’s been using the iPad for a period of six months and reckons “the experience is absolutely incredible”.

Well he would say that wouldn’t he, more than his job’s worth not to.

“It’s got a number of things that are appreciably better than anything available today,” added Cook.

I’m inclined to disagree. The iPad is a tablet device and the Netbook is a mini computer and never the twain shall meet. I don’t think they can be compared.

Personally, I think that Apple missed the boat when they decided not to produce a netbook when everyone else did and now they’re trying to say they’ve come out with something new and better than a netbook ever will be.

Cook also reckons that the only thing that consumers love about netbooks is the price. I agree the low cost is appealing, but then again Netbooks happen to be pretty useful too.

Also, if it’s the price that’s attracting them why would they fork out twice the amount of dosh for an iPad that can’t do everything a Netbook can?

Nope, I don’t the iPad will make any difference to netbook sales, most of those who are buying netbooks probably wouldn’t buy an iPad even if there were no netbooks, they’d probably go for an ultra thin instead.

Now if Apple had produced an Apple Netbook, we might be telling a very different story today.

Crocs, Inc. (CROX 7.22, +0.17, +2.41%) today announced that its board of directors has promoted John McCarvel to president and chief executive officer effective March 1, 2010. He succeeds John Duerden, who is retiring from the company and resigning as president and CEO and also from his position on the company's board. Duerden will assist with McCarvel's transition as needed.

McCarvel has spent the last six years in various executive management positions at Crocs, serving as chief operating officer and executive vice president since 2007. Previously, McCarvel was senior vice president for global operations from October 2005 to February 2007, and as vice president for Asia from January 2005 to September 2005, after providing consulting services to Crocs during 2004.

"In 2009, we made significant progress in strengthening both our financial position and our market position," said Richard Sharp, Crocs chairman of the board. "John Duerden has led this remarkable turnaround. With his leadership, we have taken steps to strengthen our product line, re-engage the consumer and reposition our iconic global brand. We also have improved our capital structure and liquidity significantly, repaid all of our debt and entered into a three-year asset-backed securitization agreement. On behalf of our board, I want to thank John for his leadership and contributions during the past year."

"As we work to build on these achievements, we need to begin planning and managing the next phase of the company's turnaround," Sharp said. "John McCarvel is well-positioned to lead this next phase because he has played a key leadership role in developing and implementing the company's strategic and operational plans. His management experience at several global companies and his in-depth knowledge of Crocs will serve us well as we move forward."

During his tenure at Crocs, McCarvel spearheaded the successful expansion of Crocs' direct channel business through retail stores and the Internet, while also working to stabilize the company's wholesale channel. He led the effort to align the company's cost base with the size of the business, including consolidation of the company's global warehouse capacity, significant reduction in inventory levels and rationalization of sponsorship programs. He also was responsible for investments in customer systems to enhance global order entry and the company's retail and Internet businesses.

"I would like to congratulate John McCarvel on his promotion to chief executive officer," Duerden said. "He brings a long track record of success in managing Crocs' global operations. His broad experience in all aspects of Crocs' business makes him the right person to lead the company into the next stage of its development and to build on Crocs' many strengths. I have enjoyed my time with the company and the opportunity to lead the restoration of a great brand."

"We've spent the last 18 months stabilizing the company while reinvigorating our product line and brand, and realigning our cost structure," McCarvel said. "I look forward to guiding the company back to profitable growth, with the help of our talented management team and employees around the world and the support of our board."

RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. (RNR  55.80, +0.44, +0.79%)  announced today the promotion of Peter C. Durhager, currently Senior Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer, to Executive Vice President. Mr. Durhager will continue to report to Neill A. Currie, the Company's Chief Executive Officer, and to serve as Chief Administrative Officer and as a member of the RenaissanceRe Executive Committee.

Mr. Currie said: "Peter has made substantial contributions to RenaissanceRe, leading many of our global integration initiatives and helping ensure that we have a robust, state-of-the-art infrastructure that ably supports our increasingly diverse operations. Thanks in no small part to Peter's contributions, we are well positioned to execute on our strategic plan and to accommodate future expansion as market needs warrant. I'm delighted to recognize Peter's leadership through this promotion."

Mr. Durhager, 39, joined RenaissanceRe in 2003 as Chief Administrative Officer, and has served as President of the Company's Global Shared Services division, with responsibilities including human resources, organizational development, marketing, communications, operations and information technology. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Durhager was co-founder, President and Chief Operating Officer of Promisant Ltd., Chairman and CEO of Logic Communications Ltd., and President and CEO of Millennium International Limited. Mr. Durhager is also a Director of KeyTech Ltd., ASCENDANT Group Limited, and the Centre on Philanthropy.

RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. is a global provider of reinsurance and insurance. Our business consists of two segments: (1) Reinsurance, which includes catastrophe reinsurance, specialty reinsurance and certain joint ventures and other investments managed by our subsidiary RenaissanceRe Ventures Ltd., and (2) Individual Risk, which includes primary insurance, commercial insurance and quota share reinsurance.

Cypress Bioscience, Inc. (NASDAQ: CYPB) today announced that Sabrina Martucci Johnson, its Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer, will participate in the RBC Capital Markets Healthcare Conference on March 2, 2010.

The RBC conference is being held at the New York Palace Hotel in New York, NY. Ms. Johnson is scheduled to participate in a panel discussion titled 'New Developments in Neurology' on Tuesday, March 2nd at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time. The audio broadcast of this presentation can be accessed at http://www.wsw.com/webcast/rbc116/panel3.

A replay of the presentation will be available at the same web address as well as on Cypress' website, http://www.cypressbio.com/events.php.

About Cypress Bioscience
Cypress Bioscience, Inc. provides therapeutics and personalized medicine services, facilitating improved and individualized patient care. Cypress addresses the evolving needs of specialist physicians and their patients by identifying unmet medical needs in the areas of pain, rheumatology, and physical medicine and rehabilitation, including challenging disorders such as fibromyalgia and rheumatoid arthritis. This approach to improving patient care creates a unique partnership with physicians. Current products include Savella® (milnacipran HCI) and the Avise PGSM and Avise MCVSM therapeutic monitoring, diagnostic and prognostic tests for rheumatoid arthritis.

For more information about Cypress, please visit the Company's website at www.cypressbio.com.

NEEDHAM, Mass.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– BigBelly Solar, Inc., the world’s first waste collection systems company that integrates renewable power and information technology to dramatically lower the operating costs, fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions associated with the waste and recycling collection process, today announced the appointment of Barry Fougere as Chief Operating Officer. Fougere brings more than 20 years of senior leadership in business management and services to BigBelly Solar and its customers.

“I have known and advised the BigBelly Solar management team for several years and am thrilled to be joining the company to help drive its next stage of growth,” said Fougere. “The BigBelly Solar approach is a powerfully elegant one – using the principles of solar-powered compaction and network information management to reduce waste collection trips by up to 80%. In times when municipalities, commercial haulers and other institutions are looking for ways to provide high levels of service while wrestling with tightening budgets, the patented BigBelly Solar waste and recycling collection system is a compelling answer. We have received tremendous validation from our customers on not only the dramatic cost savings that are realized, but also the benefits provided by the BigBelly solutions family in increasing recycling rates and reducing overflow waste.”

Fougere’s executive leadership experience includes serving as CEO of Colubris Networks (NYSE:HPQ, acquired by Hewlett Packard’s ProCurve division), a global leader in bringing wireless LAN solutions to large network operators and vertical enterprise markets. While at Colubris, Fougere was selected as an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year finalist. His career also includes operating and executive leadership roles in several business and professional services companies, including A.T. Kearney and Heidrick & Struggles.

“Barry is a proven company builder, with a real passion for delivering system-level solutions to customers that allow them to dramatically improve their operations,” said Jack Kutner, CEO of BigBelly Solar. “We have benefitted from his ideas and enthusiasm as a company advisor over the last few years and are thrilled that he has decided to join us at this exciting stage in the company’s growth. We are revolutionizing the waste collection process and feel that Barry’s operating experience and vision will be a critical element in scaling our business to be the leading global provider of waste collection efficiency systems.”

About BigBelly Solar, Inc.

BigBelly Solar is a leading provider of waste collection solutions to the global waste management industry. The BigBelly waste collection system combines solar-powered trash compaction, efficient recycling solutions, and network management software and services into a powerful approach that enables municipalities, commercial haulers and other institutional customers to reduce the operating costs associated with collection by up to 80%. The BigBelly waste collection system also provides a pragmatic path to a greener future: reducing collection trips dramatically reduces fuel consumption and greenhouse gas generation while allowing the productive redeployment of labor to recycling and other critical services. For more information visit www.bigbellysolar.com.

The Cardinal Financial Corporation (NASDAQ: CFNL) appointed Alice P. Frazier Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Cardinal Financial Corporation and Cardinal Bank. Before joining Cardinal, Ms. Frazier worked as the Loudoun County Area Executive for BB&T Corporation.

Stratus Media Group, Inc., a live entertainment company, announced today that William Kelly has been appointed to the position of Chief Operating Officer of both Stratus Media Group and ProElite, Inc. Mr. Kelly previously held the position of Chief Operating Officer of ProElite from its inception until October 2008.

“I am very pleased to appoint William as Chief Operating Officer,” stated Paul Feller, President and CEO of Stratus, “Due to Stratus’ plans for rapid growth over the next year, we identified the need to hire a person of exceptional talent and experience as COO to manage the daily operations of both our existing companies and the integration of newly acquired companies and events. In addition to his experience at ProElite and his knowledge of the MMA business, Mr. Kelly’s background is an ideal fit for our requirements and we are happy to have such a valuable addition to our team.”

Mr. Kelly brings over two decades of entertainment and media operations and management experience to Stratus. Prior to ProElite, Mr. Kelly Co-founded Television Korea 24 Inc. (tvk24) in 2003, where he served as Chief Operating Officer. In 2001, Mr. Kelly joined the Extreme Sports Channel as Chief Operating Officer International…

Synovus Financial Corp. has named Kessel Stelling, the president and CEO of its Bank of North Georgia subsidiary, the president and chief operating officer of the overarching holding company.

Monday’s announcement fills a hole in Synovus’ management structure left vacant since the May 2009 departure of former COO Frederick Green.

Columbus, Ga.-based Synovus (NYSE: SNV), the No. 2 banking company based in the state, lost $1.4 billion in 2009, and has taken a beating from souring residential development loans. The Atlanta region has been among the hardest hit in Synovus’ loan portfolio.

Synovus revealed in September it had entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with state and federal regulators. The MOU, a form of regulatory order, directs Synovus to improve its balance sheet and risk management practices, shed bad assets, increase capital and develop a plan of succession.

Synovus has operated without a president since Green, who had previously been seen as Anthony’s successor, left the company.

Donald D. Howard, the chairman of the board of Bank of North Georgia and Synovus regional CEO, will head the Alpharetta-based bank.

“With deep roots in Georgia and long-standing relationships with regulators and other key state officials, Kessel is one of the most highly-respected bankers in the state and is well-known as a visionary leader in the banking industry,” Richard Anthony, chairman and CEO of Synovus, said in a statement. “As Synovus continues to execute our strategy to navigate the difficult economic environment and prepares for the consolidation of our legal charter structure, choosing a leader who is intimately familiar with our company and who has established relationships throughout the Synovus family and our geographic footprint in the Southeast is the best decision for our team members, customers and shareholders.

"This transition comes at an important time in our company’s history, and I am confident that Kessel has the expertise and skills to help position us for long-term growth and success.”

Stelling, rumored for months to be the top internal candidate to slide into the No. 2 slot in the banking company’s hierarchy, is now the heir apparent to Synovus Chairman and CEO Richard Anthony. Atlanta Business Chronicle first reported in December Stelling’s candidacy for the post.

“I am honored to be selected to serve Synovus team members, customers and shareholders as president and COO,” Stelling said in a statement. “I look forward to working with the exceptional team at Synovus to continue to build a strong company that brings value to customers.”

Stelling is the former chairman and CEO of Riverside Bancshares Inc. He has both an outsider and insider perspective at the $35 billion-in-assets regional banking company.

A highly respected banker, business and civic leader, he joined Bank of North Georgia after Synovus acquired Riverside in 2006. Since then, Stelling has headed Synovus’ Atlanta region, and been the point man on the integration of several smaller bank subsidiaries into Bank of North Georgia, now Synovus’ largest bank with $5.5 billion in assets. He has also been an integral part of purging the company of toxic assets in metro Atlanta.

Bank of North Georgia lost $52.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2009. More than 15 percent of its loans are in some form of delinquency, default or foreclosure.

More than 10 percent of its total loans, or $390 million, were considered non-accrual, meaning Bank of North Georgia did not expect repayment.

But many of Bank of North Georgia’s credit problems stem from the consolidation of the bank with smaller Synovus subsidiaries throughout metro Atlanta, industry observers contend.

Stelling’s job will be to help implement the consolidation of Synovus’ 30 bank charters into one. Though the banking company will continue to operate 30 individual banks, it is consolidating its charters to better manage its capital flow and make the company less cumbersome from a regulatory perspective.

He will oversee the company’s day-to-day banking operations, its retail banking efforts and the diversification of Synovus' commercial banking system.

Synovus officials have said credit issues will continue in the first quarter of 2010 at a similar clip to the fourth quarter, but it expects credit conditions and margins to improve and for the bank to swing to a profit by fourth quarter 2010.

The consolidation, which comes on the heels of some internal operations mergers and other cost cutting efforts over the past five to six years will likely have a positive affect on capital, industry insiders say.

Stelling will also play a roll in the company’s efforts to raise capital and eventually pay off the $968 million in TARP investment from the federal government.

HOUSTON, Feb. 19 -- Anadarko Petroleum Corp. has promoted Al Walker to president and chief operating officer. Jim Hackett, formerly chairman, president, and chief executive officer, will remain as chairman and CEO.

Walker has more than 25 years of experience in the energy industry, with a focus on exploration and production. He joined Anadarko in 2005 as senior vice-president, finance, and chief financial officer.

Firm Appoints Fred Schmidt to Chief Role

Thirty-year industry veteran Fred Schmidt was promoted to president and chief operating officer of Coldwell Banker Commercial Affiliates LLC. He will take charge of a franchise system that includes more than 200 offices and 2,300 commercial real estate professionals operating in 20 countries. Schmidt replaced Rick Davidson who after nearly four years at CBC moved to Century 21 Real Estate LLC as president and chief executive officer. Both firms are entities of real estate company Realogy Corp. The transition will start immediately.

Schmidt will report to Jim Gillespie, president and COO of Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. He was also named president of ONCOR International LLC, the commercial real estate referral network that includes 50-plus independently owned brokerage firms.

Schmidt has a specialty in advisory services and new business development. He joined CBC seven years ago most recently serving as senior vice president of Realogy Global Client Solutions and head of six specialty groups. Before CBC, he spent 21 years in various leadership roles at CB Richard Ellis including first vice president of corporate services. Schmidt was also managing director for United Systems Integrators Corp.

He is a member of CoreNet Global and has an undergraduate degree from Seton Hall University.

CONTACT:
Bill Shepard
Chief Operating Officer Business Forum, Inc.
(408) 292-1593 phone
(408) 521-2180 fax
bshepard@COOForum.org
http://www.COOForum.org

Saratoga, California, March 3, 2008 -- Last month at the COO Forum, six Northern California meetings were held in San Jose, San Francisco, San Ramon, San Carlos, Monterey, and Marin. During these meetings, Members explored the challenges of leadership and decision-making in a recession. The meetings were attended by 46 COOs and Second-in-Command Executives across a spectrum of company sizes and industries. This article documents consensus thinking of the Members and guests at the COO Forum during these February 2008 meetings.

The Members drew no conclusion on whether the economy is or is not in a recession, knowing that the usual definition of two quarters of negative growth can only be determined after a recession has been in effect for six months. The Members also acknowledge that in a recession, not all regions, industries, and companies will experience the same brunt. While the overall opinion of the COOs is that if a company is being run 100% effectively, there are few, if any, changes necessary. Recognizing the truth that many companies will not hold up to the 100% standard, the Members identified best practices for being a COO of a company heading into recessionary times.

Scenario Contingency Planning
The initial best practice for COOs and their companies is to create a ‘no surprises’ approach to short-term scenario and contingency planning. The belief of COO Forum Members is that a divergent spectrum of ‘what if’ approaches must be explored in conjunction with multiple options and outcomes. As one COO indicated “We have created several different plans that only the Board and C-level knows about. We don’t want to scare our employees or stockholders, but we must be able to move with agility and efficiency if a recession begins to impact our operations.”

Maintain a Tight, Balanced Financial and Operational Approach While this is a seen as a best practice everyday, the COOs felt that higher emphasis on tight and balanced operational and financial decision-making was crucial in recessionary times. The discussions focused on the axiom ‘cash is king,’ recognizing that in recessionary times prudent use of cash may avoid liquidity challenges. As one COO indicated, “If we don’t have enough cash, we won’t make the best decisions.” The Members felt that revenue and margin pressures would occur and were concerned with demands to sacrifice margin, which was viewed as a slippery slope to watch closely. Other discussion emphasized tight expense control; thoughtful deployment of capital and longer term outlays; strong inventory level management; forceful collections; scrutinizing customer credit limits; and negotiation of better terms from suppliers, service providers, and contractors.

Look to Shedding Unprofitable Assets and Activities
The COOs felt that companies often hang on to unprofitable efforts due to the robust nature of their entire business. In a time of projected slowdown, extricating marginal and losing efforts may prove to be most sound. Area of suggestion from the COO Forum meeting included the following: plants, offices, equipment, product lines, suppliers, customers, divisions, businesses, and business processes.

Deal with Unnecessary Headcount
“Now is the time start the process of shedding low performing and unneeded employees and contractors before it’s too late,” indicated one COO. When those around the table reflected on lessons learned from prior recessions, getting the head count number right early on would have had a huge positive impact on a company’s success in riding out the recession.

Dial-up Communications
With all the media noise, COO Forum Members see employees becoming nervous. Employees sense the job losses and companies in trouble all around them and worry about their company. The prevailing COO message from the meetings was that increasing communication is the best practice. Employees want to know that leadership understands the economic realities and has plans to succeed in the potentially more challenging time. Employees want to hear from leadership more frequently. “If we don’t answer the employee communications need, the water cooler talk will answer it for us” said one COO. “What we say to our people is far more helpful to us and our company’s morale than leaving it to the grapevine.”

Hold Back Some of the CEOs Exuberance
COOs have the highest regard for their CEOs and appreciate the CEOs important responsibility to inspire, create a bold vision, and lead the company into the future. However, there is a belief that recessionary times call for the CEO to adopt a less optimistic and more down-to-earth charter for the company. The role of the Second-in-Command is one of appropriate tactics to deliver results. Bringing their CEO closer to the factual realities of the economic times becomes a COO mandate.

Exploit the Upside Opportunities
As with all downturns, there is an increase in turmoil and change which always presents opportunities for strong companies to become even stronger. The COOs indicated many ideas including: new acquisitions; attracting new customers from weak competitors; availability of great new employees; opportunities to open new markets; a great time to launch new products; and improving relationships and effectiveness within the supply chain. “We are a very solid company and I know that we’ll benefit from the shake-out of our weaker competitors,” said one COO.

About the COO Forum: The COO Forum was founded in 2004 in the Greater San Francisco Bay/Silicon Valley Area by Bill Shepard, Executive Director. The association has become the professional development home for Chief Operating Officers and Second-in-Command Executives. The association recognizes the significant role the COO plays as the senior leader responsible for taking their company’s vision and delivering results. As a result of the COO Forum’s continued success and growth in Northern California since its inception in 2004, the COO Forum 2008 initiative is to include COOs and Second-in-Command Executives globally. COO Forum and Chief Operating Officer Business Forum are registered trademarks of the Chief Operating Officer Business Forum, Inc.