Personnel Notes

Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Julius Genachowski announced Wednesday that two new senior staff members will be joining the FCC's media and telecommunications bureaus.

“These talented individuals bring a wealth of experience in the communications and technology sectors,” Genachowski said. “They will play key roles in advancing the FCC’s goals of promoting a vibrant media landscape and leading the world in 21st-century broadband communications.”

Michelle Carey will become deputy chief of the media bureau, where she will help shape the bureau’s policies on competition in the video content market. Prior to joining the FCC, she was senior adviser to Administrator Lawrence Strickling at the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), where she helped with the implementation of the $4.4 billion Broadband Technology Opportunities Program.

Carey previously worked at the FCC as senior legal adviser to then-Chairman Kevin Martin and as deputy chief of the wireline competition bureau. She earned both her B.A. and J.D from Georgetown University.

In addition, Michael McKenzie will become deputy chief of the wireless telecommunications bureau and senior adviser on new technology. McKenzie will oversee the division that manages spectrum and help provide overall strategic direction for the bureau. McKenzie was most recently a general manager at Microsoft working on enterprise cloud-computing services. He graduated from the University of Virginia for undergrad and Harvard for law school.

Jennifer Schneider, senior policy advisor to Federal Communications Commissioner (FCC) Michael Copps, is leaving the agency to join the rural  provider Frontier Communications. Her title will be vice president of legislative affairs.

Schneider, who served as Copps' legal advisor on broadband, wireline and universal service issues, previously worked for House Communications Subcommittee Chairman Rick Boucher (Va.). Before that, she was at the FCC and at Bingham McCutchen.

Margaret McCarthy, who was a telecom legislative assistant for Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-ND), will fill the spot.

Federal Communications Commissioner Meredith Baker announced a pair of departures and series of staff moves in response on Monday.

Christi Shewman, currently Baker's wireline legal advisor, will leave to rejoin the FCC's Wireline Competition Bureau. Baker's legal advisor for media issues Brad Gillen will take over for Shewman and his job will be filled by Krista Witanowski of the FCC's Media Bureau pending the selection of a permanent replacement.

"This is a great opportunity for Christi. While I will miss her counsel, I have been fortunate to have had her on my team since the beginning of my tenure at the Commission. The Bureau is lucky to have her back, and the good news is that we will all benefit from her expertise," Baker said.

Baker also announced her confidential assistant and staff attorney Millie Kerr will be leaving the Commission. Kari Amstutz, who currently works for Rep. Charles Djou (R-Ha.), will be Baker's new confidential assistant and Tasha Kinney, currently at the Department of Agriculture, will also join Baker as a staff assistant.

Comcast chief operating officer Stephen Burke will succeed Jeff Zucker as chief executive of NBC Universal, the cable giant announced Monday.

Current NBC chief Jeff Zucker announced he will be leaving the firm after 24 years on Friday. Burke will take over once Comcast's purchase of a majority stake from GE is completed; the government is expected to greenlight the deal later this year.

“Steve Burke is an experienced, talented and visionary leader with over 25 years in the media and entertainment industry. Steve is one of the most well-respected executives in the industry, and I am confident that he will lead NBCU forward to a new era of growth," Comcast chief executive Brian Roberts said.

Burke joined Comcast in 1998 as president of Comcast Cable and has been credited with helping the firm become the nation's largest cable provider. Before joining Comcast he served in a variety of positions at Disney including president of ABC Broadcasting. He also serves on the board of Berkshire Hathway, whose CEO Warren Buffett praised his elevation.

“I have known Steve Burke for many years and greatly respect him. He has deep expertise in this industry and I am very confident that he will be a strong leader for NBC Universal,” said GE chief executive Jeff Immelt.

The nonprofit Project on Government Oversight (POGO) announced the hiring of two new investigators on Tuesday.

Nick Schwellenbach has rejoined POGO for a second stint as director of investigations, where he will oversee probes into government corruption and waste. He was previously a staff writer at the Center of Public Integrity, covering congressional ethics and defense spending.

From 2004 to 2008 Schwellenbach was an investigator at POGO. He earned a B.A. in history from University of Texas-Austin and a master's in journalism and public affairs from American University.

Paul Thacker joins POGO as an investigator after spending three years working for the Senate Finance Committee under Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), where he focused on healthcare oversight. He also spent several years as an investigative journalist, and earned a B.S. in biology from University of California-Davis.

Hewlett-Packard announced Monday it has settled a lawsuit over Oracle's hiring of former chief executive Mark Hurd, who resigned from HP last month after alleged improprieties involving an HP contractor.

Oracle chief executive Larry Ellison hired Hurd as co-president earlier this month after blasting his resignation from HP, calling it the worst personnel decision since the board of Apple fired Steve Jobs in 1985. HP responded by filing a lawsuit the next day, alleging Hurd had breached the confidentiality requirements in his separation agreement by taking the job at Oracle.

According to the terms of the settlement, Hurd will waive the remaining compensation due to him as part of his separation agreement, more than 346,000 restricted stock units. He will still be bound by the agreement to not to disclose HP's proprietary information while at Oracle, according to a joint statement from both companies.

“HP and Oracle have been important partners for more than twenty years and are committed to working together to provide exceptional products and service to our customers. We look forward to collaborating with Oracle in the future,” said interim HP CEO Cathie Lesjak.

Ellison said in a brief statement that the two companies will "continue to build and expand a partnership that has already lasted for over 25 years."

Federal Communications Commissioner Mignon Clyburn announced Monday that Dave Grimaldi will join her office as chief of staff and media legal adviser.

Grimaldi currently works for Clyburn's father, House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.), as senior counsel specializing in technology, telecommunications, foreign affairs and financial regulation. Before joining Rep. Clyburn's staff he was senior counsel with The Raben Group, and spent two years as legislative counsel to Rep. Edolphus Towns (D-N.Y.).

“Our entire office welcomes Dave. We look forward to the diverse experience, commitment, creativity, and leadership he will bring to our team," Commissioner Clyburn said in a statement.

Grimaldi holds a B.A. from Loyola Marymount University and a J.D. from the Columbus School of Law at The Catholic University of America. He succeeds acting chief of staff Angela Kronenberg, who will continue as wireline legal adviser to Commissioner Clyburn.

Former Commerce Department cybersecurity policy analyst Danielle Kriz has joined the Information Technology Industry Council (ITI) as director of global cybersecurity policy.

In her new position Kriz will lead the creation and implementation of ITI's cybersecurity policy agenda. She was previously managing associate at Canyon Snow Consulting, where she worked with high-tech and clean-tech companies to help them navigate government regulations both domestically and abroad.

“The actions taken today in developing cybersecurity policy across the globe will have significant and long standing implications far into the future,” said Kriz in a statement. “ITI and its members are leading the dialogue on so many of the top issues in the technology industry today, including cybersecurity, and I am pleased to be part of the team.”

Before joining Canyon Snow, Kriz spent a decade at the U.S. International Trade Commission and the Department of Commerce’s Office of Technology and Electronic Commerce, where she helped formulate the U.S. government’s high-tech trade policies.

Another top executive at Nokia announced he would be leaving after the Finnish mobile phone maker announced last week Microsoft's Stephen Elop will be taking over as chief executive.

Anssi Vanjoki, the head of Nokia's mobile solutions business, announced his resignation from the company on Monday. Vanjoki had previously been seen as a potential successor to outgoing CEO Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo, who will be replaced by Elop on Sept. 21. Elop, a Canadian citizen, will be the company's first non-Finnish CEO.

Vanjoki will remain with Nokia for six months. He has drawn criticism as Nokia lost ground to rivals such as Apple and phones powered by Google's Android operating system in the market for high-end smartphones. Nokia has also pledged to make North America a priority, as it is currently the company's worst performer.

Microsoft executive Stephen Elop will replace Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo as chief executive of Nokia Corp. on Sept. 21, the firm announced Friday.

"The time is right to accelerate the company's renewal; to bring in new executive leadership with different skills and strengths in order to drive company success," said Nokia chairman Jorma Ollila in a statement. "We believe that Stephen will be able to drive both innovation and efficient execution of the company strategy in order to deliver increased value to our shareholders."

Elop, a Canadian citizen who currently heads Microsoft's Business Division, will be Nokia's first non-Finnish CEO. Nokia remains the world's largest mobile phone maker but has lost ground against rivals such as Apple, HTC and Research in Motion in the market for high-end smartphones. Elop has held positions at several prominent technology firms, including Juniper Networks and Adobe Systems.

"His strong software background and proven record in change management will be valuable assets as we press harder to complete the transformation of the company," Ollila added. 

In a statement Elop said he was excited about the position and dedicated to strengthening Nokia's position as the leader of the mobile communications industry. He previously worked as president and CEO of Macromedia until its acquisition by Adobe in 2005, and earned a bachelor's degree in computer engineering and management from McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario.

Reports of the board's search for a new chief executive first surfaced in July. Kallasvuo will step down and give up his seat on the board on Sept. 20.